Motivating Students Unmotivated Motivated End Result

About me Kevin Bombardier From Kansas “Dr. Bomb”! Undergrad: Wichita State University (WSU) B.S. Physics; B.S. Mathematics REUs: Baylor University in Plasma Physics Boise State University in Cryptography Physics TA for 3 years “Plotting something” “That’s a good sign”

About me University of Iowa Hobbies: Ph.D. Candidate Courses Taught: Math for Bio Intro to Linear Algebra Elementary Functions College Algebra Qual prep in Algebra Calc for Bio Logic of Arithmetic Elementary Geometry Abstract Algebra (Graduate) Calculus I (Current) Hobbies: Teaching (Yes… seriously…) Board games

Goals Learn the characteristics of unmotivated students Perform motivation analysis Discuss how to increase student motivation How to stay motivated to teach

Unmotivated Students What are some behaviors of unmotivated students? Disengaged Attend sporadically Does minimal effort Give up easily

Motivation Gaps Keller’s ARCS model’s 4 main categories: Attention Get and maintain attention Relevance How is the content of use? Confidence Generate and maintain confidence Satisfaction What rewards will the student receive? Paper by Keller (1987)

Brainstorm! In your groups, discuss a particular course of your choice. Identify any possible gaps in these four areas: Attention Relevance Confidence Satisfaction How can any of these issues be addressed?

Attention Strategies What are some possible ways to gain student attention? Ask a question or play devil’s advocate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjht4oAByCI Give an example or tell a story Vary your presentation Use humor Give students choices Can too much choice be a bad thing? Participation - Choices: Autonomy and self determination - Students value control over their own environment

Relevance Strategies What are some possible ways to help students see any relevance? Relate to student experience Express how useful it may be in the future Express its intrinsic worth Give students some choice Show enthusiasm for topic Expectancy-Value - Do students always know the value in a class?

Confidence Strategies What are some possible ways to help students gain and maintain confidence? Attribute success to effort What about failures? Gradually help students become increasing independent when learning new skills Help students set realistic expectations Structure material to be “conquerable” Groups: Discuss a simple example on how to make a topic “conquerable” Attribute to effort rather than intelligent Failures: Ask students what they did to prepare Intelligence is incremental Feedback matters – attribute to hard work!

Satisfaction Strategies What are some possible ways that would help students feel satisfied? Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation Groups: What are examples of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation? Can both be used? How can you influence intrinsic motivation? Praise Avoid negative statements Have students help each other Intrinsic: Value of activity itself Extrinsic: Value of outside reward View as two separte things on their own continuum Extrinsic rewards useful when it contains FEEDBACK Influence intrinsic: - Being prepared - Make lessons interesting - Stimulate thought - Make interactive - Describe YOUR intrinsic motivation - Get to know your students (if possible)

Staying Motivated Groups: Discuss how you stay motivated for classes that you teach Can students affect your motivation? How? How can you combat this? Groups: Discuss examples of memorable teachers that motivated you Groups: What strategies have you implemented that helps motivate students?