Training Peer Tutors to Work with Unmotivated Students Jasmine Case, Holly Hassemer, Patti See University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

What the Research Says Students leave a university for a variety of reasons: academic difficulty, adjustment problems, uncertain goals, lack of commitment, inadequate finances, lack of student involvement, and poor fit to the institution (Tinto, 2001). Motivation is probably the most important factor that educators can target in order to improve learning (Olson, 1997).

Individuals who are motivated intrinsically tend to develop high regard for learning course information without the use of external rewards or reinforcement. (Lei, 2010) Students who are motivated externally are at a greater risk of performing lower academically than intrinsically motivated students. Nontraditional students report higher levels of intrinsic motivation than traditional students. (Dean and Dagostino, 2007; Daniels, 2010; Bye, Pushkar, and Conway, 2007; Afzal, et al., 2010)

TUTOR TRAINING PROGRAMS

Specialized Tutoring: ELL Tutors Motivation is defined as the extent one strives to acquire the language because of their desire to do so and the satisfaction derived from it. (Gardner, 1985) The learners enthusiasm, commitment and persistence are the key determinant of their success or failure in learning the target language. (Dornyei, 2002)

Considerations for Training ELL Tutors English as a Second Language (ESL) vs English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Role of the tutor and motivation to seek help/support from a peer Selling skills to the studentfocusing on higher-order concerns rather than the lower-order concerns Picking battlesan accent is okay!

Specialized Tutoring: Reading and Study Strategies Tutors Self-Determination Theory of Motivation (Ryan and Deci) used as a framework for self-assessing motivation.

Sample Training Activity: Finding Your Motivation Sample Training Activity: Finding Your Motivation

External Motivation Reinforcement in the Classroom (Dangerous Minds) Reinforcement in the Classroom Rewards in the Classroom (Dangerous Minds) Rewards in the Classroom

Internal Motivation Learning is the Prize