Information about Motivation and Rewards in a classroom setting.

1. Motivation and Rewards
Caitlin Taylor
Mechanicsburg Area School District

2. What motivates you?

3. How do you motivate your
students?

4. What We Will Cover...
Behaviorism
Temporary Demotivation
Apathy
Rewards and the Brain
Factors that effect rewards
Intrinsic motivation

5. Behaviorism and Education
Began in 1950's with Behaviorism
Rewards were cheap, harmless,
and effective
Effective only for simple physical
actions
Complex behaviors impaired by
rewards
Humans seek new experiences
and behaviors regardless

6. Temporary Demotivation
1. Past associations
2. Classroom
environment
3. Relationship with the
future
• content beliefs
• context beliefs

7. Apathy
• 3 categories are temporary
states
• Appropriate response to
the environment
• States constantly changing
• Disappears with engaging
activity or music

8. What is a reward?
Predictability
• Know what it is
ahead of time
Market value
• Grades, candy, etc.

9. Factors that Effect Rewards
Genetics
Life experiences
• Thrive off survival
• Success in cooperative
roles of leader and
follower
• Emotional literacy skills
needed

10. Intrinsic Motivation
Compelling goals
Positive beliefs
Productive emotions
• Stress and threat
mobilize or do not
Learner's natural search and
construction for meaning

11. Strategies
1. Eliminate threat
2. Daily goal-setting
3. Influence students' positive beliefs in themselves
4. Manage student emotions through movement
and celebration
5. Provide feedback

12. Your turn!
How will this new knowledge motivate you to
motivate your students?

13. Resources Used
Information:
Jensen, E. (2005). Teaching with the brain in mind. Alexandria, VA: ASCD
MacDonald, M.(2008). Your brain: the missing manual. Canada: O'Reilly Media.
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