Authors: Markos Medhin Merkuria and Blessing Epum (edited by Linda Ruas) | Published on 11 April 2024
Question: How can teachers motivate others?
Answer: With relevance, engagement, variety, autonomy and positive feedback.
As teachers, we need to motivate our learners, and often our colleagues and fellow members of Teacher Associations too!
Here are some tips/ideas on how we can become better at motivating others:
- Set Clear Goals: Clearly communicate learning objectives and expectations to students, which will help students understand what they are working towards and provides a sense of purpose
- Provide Positive Feedback: Recognise and acknowledge students' – and teachers’ - efforts and achievements. Positive reinforcement – eg. stickers, certificates boosts confidence and motivates everyone to continue striving for success. Rewards can serve as tangible reminders of progress and motivate our students to continue working hard
- Create a Supportive Learning Environment: Cultivate a classroom atmosphere that is supportive, inclusive, and conducive to learning, by encouraging collaboration, active participation, and mutual respect among students.
- Offer Choices and Autonomy: Provide students with opportunities to make choices and take ownership of their learning eg. by allowing them to select topics of interest, projects, or learning activities
- Make Learning Relevant: Relate learning material to students' interests, experiences, and real-world applications, so they can see the value and importance of all activities.
- Use Varied Teaching Methods: Incorporate a variety of instructional strategies and learning activities to cater to different learning styles and preferences; keep lessons interactive, engaging, and dynamic to maintain students' interest and attention.
- Set High Expectations: Challenge students to reach their full potential by setting high expectations for academic performance and behavior; encourage them to push beyond their comfort zones and strive for excellence.
- Provide Opportunities for Success: Break down tasks into manageable steps and provide scaffolding and support as needed to ensure students experience success; celebrate achievements, no matter how small, to reinforce motivation and self-confidence.
- Show Enthusiasm and Passion: Demonstrate your own enthusiasm and passion for teaching and learning. Your enthusiasm is contagious and can inspire students to approach learning with energy and enthusiasm.