1 thescienceteacher.co.ukthescienceteacher.co.uk | supporting science teachers to teach great lessons Motivation in science

2 I was motivated to do well in science because…………

3 What do computer games teach us about student motivation?

4 Appropriate challenge which develops over time Opportunity to improve Certain points at which achievement is celebrated Use of an imaginary world – e.g. frictionless worlds

5 Motivation Extrinsic Rewards, privileges, praise, attention Intrinsic ‘pleasure students get when they learn something new’ Lepper, M. R., and Hodell, M. (1989). Intrinsic motivation in the classroom. In C. Ames & R. Ames (Eds.), Research on motivation in education (vol. 3, pp. 73–105). San Diego, CA: Academic Press. Palmer, D. (2005). A motivational view of constructivist ‐ informed teaching. International Journal of Science Education, 27(15), A motivational view of constructivist ‐ informed teaching

Ways to support intrinsic motivation in science 6 CuriosityChallenge FantasyControl

1. Curiosity through cognitive conflict Plastic Metal

1. Curiosity through cognitive conflict You present some new knowledge that is incompatible with students’ current ideas Students have to reconsider their own ideas and accommodate this new information Understanding becomes rooted and brings about conceptual change 8

Ways to support intrinsic motivation 9 CuriosityChallenge FantasyControl

2. Challenge, with a specific outcome 10

2. Challenge, with a specific outcome 11

2. Challenge - set a time limit to achieve an outcome 12 Identify the deliberate shortcoming of these five models. All materials are represented at room temperature. 3 minutes

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Ways to support intrinsic motivation 14 CuriosityChallenge FantasyControl

O nce up a time, a human zygote 15 What could this child to that other human children could not do? Why did the Green Child only feel hungry at night time? How do you think carbon dioxide and oxygen got to the child’s cells? Do you think every cell in the Green Child could photosynthesise? Explain your answer. Would you expect the Green Child’s cells to contain mitochondria? Explain your answer. became infected with a photosynthetic bacterium. As the embryo divided, the bacteria became incorporated into each new cell, making a baby that could photosynthesise. This ‘Green Child’ was very special because…..

Ways to support intrinsic motivation 16 CuriosityChallenge FantasyControl

Control and autonomy: children perceive themselves to be in charge… 17

18 I was motivated to do well in science because…………