What is learning Oct. 19
Learning is acquiring a new skill or knowledge. As we read this week, the learning is easier when the motivation is right. I am currently working on losing weight, If this does not sound like learning to you, give it a shot: there is a lot of learning! Anyway, from June through September I was in a weight loss contest as well as being a member of Weight Watchers. Each competitor put up $10, with a total of 11 members, so $110 bucks. I am not sure why but I fixated on that prize and I did not let go! Well, okay, a couple of times I was less than disciplined but for the most part I was determined and I followed my Weight Watchers plan. I was so motivated by that prize! Plus, the weekly accomplishments kept me going in the right direction; they served as reinforcement along the way, keeping me going. You can guess who won the money, Oh yeah, it was me! And I was so happy! I can't even remember what I spent the money on, the important part is that contest drove me to learn how to eat right, avoid junk food, exercise every day, and all that. I can tell you, too, that since that competition ended I have lost my focus. Time for a new contest!
So, the point is, I learned because that contest was the right motivation for me. I didn't really have a teacher or trainer, but I do have a friend that I work out with and she helped me keep going, too. I did the same for her. So, we sort of "taught" each other. Teachers/trainers can serve as motivators cheering the learner on through the learning process. Also, the teacher can certainly learn along with the student, and the students can teach each other. It is really more fun when everyone learns together; apparently I am intimate goal oriented, I love the connection with other people, when ideas feed off other ideas and everyone is enjoying the experience. Learn on...
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Submitted by Rebecca Ethington on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 8:31pm
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Any opinions expressed here, except as specifically noted, are those of the individual authors or commenters and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Department of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences, the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, or Utah State University.
I like your comment on the
I like your comment on the importance of finding the right motivation. This is the greatest challenge we have with students as they are so individually unique. Hopefully, as teachers we get better at assessing the needs of students and at learning what truly motivates them. It is amazing what students achieve with the proper motivation. I also agree that learning is more fun when it is done with others. I think that kind of learning is motivating in itself and creates a kind of learning that is deeper and longer lasting.
Wow! Great story about
Wow! Great story about working toward a goal. That was fit right in with the motivation-goal theory.
I like that you noted your type of goal-orientation. I think that if we know what motivates us, then we can better understand what motivates our students. If we could find that motivation for each students like you found your motivation to stick to the plan, then teaching would be a lot easier. Our students would have much more drive to take responsibility of their own learning.
Thanks for the example.
motivational learning
I really enjoyed reading this blog. It was very personable and it illustrated what you were trying to say exaclty. I am not a competitive person by nature but rather a socially motivated individual. I really enjoy getting together with people and discussing what they think about specific ideas and thoughts. I'll be honest, I am missing that aspect in this program. I think it is a great program and I enjoy the online discussions, but it is really not the same. I don't get to see faces or facial reactions and I miss that aspect of sitting in a group and discussing. So, wow! What a revelation for me! Though I knew that this is the aspect of why I am struggling in this program, it now makes sense for me after reading about all the different aspects people have for motivational learning. Your blog just kind of helped me get to this point (even though I should have realized this by now!)
Cool. :)
Cool. :)
Becky, I enjoyed your post. I
Becky, I enjoyed your post. I would have been motivated by the weight goal, too, and recongize myself in your story. (Congrats on the WW experience, too!) I also appreciate what Derek had to say about being socially motivated. I find that I also miss meeting face to face (or screen to screen as we did in the Library endorsement program.) I am glad to have the flexibity that the distance program allows, but I didn't realize that I was so socially motivated. It appears that we need to continue to use a variety of motivations to target all of our students and their changes needs.