LESSON 8 & 9: MOTIVATION

WHAT IS MOTIVATION?

MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS THEORY

Maslow's (1943, 1954) hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five levels of human needs. Maslow wanted to understand what motivates people. He believed that people possess a set of motivation systems unrelated to rewards or unconscious desires.

Maslow stated that people are motivated to achieve certain needs, and that some needs take precedence over others. Our most basic need is for physical survival, and this will be the first thing that motivates our behaviour. Once that level is fulfilled the next level up is what motivates us, and so on.

This five stage model can be divided into deficiency needs and growth needs. The first four levels are often referred to as deficiency needs  and the top level is known as growth or being needs. The deficiency needs are said to motivate people when they are unmet. Also, the need to fulfil such needs will become stronger the longer the duration they are denied. For example, the longer a person goes without food the more hungry they will become.

WHAT MOTIVATES LEARNERS?

HOW TO CREATE DESIRE?

• Ask or post a riddle.
  
  


• Trivia questions through e-mails the night before will have students engaged.
  
  


• Pictures of people, places or things with engaging quotes or questions.
  
  


• Music or even movement.
  
  


• What-if questions.
  
  


• Who-said-it questions.
  
  


• Excerpts from videos.
  
  


• Picture books, except from great stories or author quotes.
  
  

HOW THEY CAN PAY ATTENTION?

 

• Moving around the room frequently.
• When reading or asking questions , randomly select someone.
• Let them be the teacher.When you know you have had the attention of a pupil, allow him to come or explain and be the teacher.
• Give the students a break in the middle of a long lesson (brain breaks). We can obtain their attention longer because they know they will be able to be silly for about 2 or 3 minutes.
• Don’t be afraid to be a little “theatrical” in presenting a lesson. Laugh, be silly. Let them see you are having fun (it’s OK to have fun in the classroom).

 

ACTIVE ROLE IN THE LEARNING

• Allow them to engage in group discussion.
• Create individual or partner projects for students to enhance their learning.
• Role playing.
• Short writing assignments.
• Drawing or creative presentations.
• Use of internet and other technologies.