Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Maintainning motivation for learning

Suggestions to Increase and Improve Motivation
According to Groccia (1992) applying the following principles of reinforcement together with general motivation tips should get you energized and directed toward higher levels of academic success. Click here to go to our Motivation packet (incomplete at this time).
Establish a learning-oriented environment.
Learn to recognize and capitalize on your intrinsic interests and natural needs for competence, curiosity satisfaction, and achievement.
Set and attain realistic goals.
Take initiative in your learning.
Encourage and get informative feedback and external control as necessary.
Use reinforcement principles to increase motivation. In some situations, the use of tangible rewards might be helpful to improve, increase, or maintain good study behaviors.
a. The first step in learning to systematically use external rewards to increase motivation to specify what rewarding for you.
b. Learn to reward yourself after studying for some predetermined time or after finishing a certain number of problems.
c. When learning a new behavior or studying a low-interest subject, begin with a high reward-to-work ratio.
d. As you learn to study this low-interest subject, gradually increase the amount/time of studying done to earn your reward.
e. Gradually shift to an intermittent reward schedule as your studying improves.
f. You can increase your motivation to study a hard or less preferred course by studying it before you study an easier or more preferred course.
g. It’s more motivating and productive to make a reward contingent or dependent upon an amount of work accomplished rather than on time spent study.
h. It may be more motivating for you to keep a chart or record of what you have accomplished. This becomes a form of feedback that will be reinforcing.
i. It may be more helpful when studying to compete with yourself rather than to compete with others.

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