This document discusses the topics of learned helplessness, motivation, rewards, and alternatives to bribery and rewards in education. It describes how learned helplessness can negatively impact students' choices and performance in the classroom. It also explains that intrinsic motivation is more effective than extrinsic motivation or rewards, which can undermine students' interest in learning. The document provides strategies to promote intrinsic motivation through meeting students' needs and giving them a sense of control.

1. Jensen Chapter 15
Motivation and
Rewards.
By. Mike Scharfenberg, Zach Torro, Mike Avenoso and
Frankie Mandile.

2. Learned
Helplessness

3. Learned Helplessness
• Children who suffer from learn helplessness tend to make bad
choices as opposed to good ones.
• Progressed over a long period of time.
• Even if the child is intelligent, it can still effect their
performance in the classroom.
• Students don’t see an importance with the material they are
learning because they believe there is aren't any external
rewards from learning the material.
• Examples:
• Not caring what happens, giving up before starting, depression
and anxiety and not following directions. (Jenson 114)

4. Learn Helplessness
• Probable causes of learn helplessness:
• Large amounts of stress
• Inherited from society
• Haunted by previous failures In the classroom
• Seeing others fail in the class room
• Witnessing tragic world events
• Parents or teachers doing the students work for them.

5. Learned Helplessness
Changes in the Brain:
If one has learned helplessness here are some example of
changes in their brain.
- Decline of norepinephrine production ( stimulates
arousal system)
- GABA (Neurotransmitter) decreases in the brain and is
responsible for lowering anxiety.
- Serotonin and Dopamine is not produced as often. Is
also known as the (feel good neurotransmitter).

6. Learned Helplessness
Ways to break the cycle of learned helplessness.
- “learned optimism”
- Student receiving positive feedback
- Being involved in the community
- Finding a hobby
- Helping out whenever possible (Ex. household chores)
- Participating in sports, theater or music programs

7. Learned Helplessness
-Excessive Praise is Detrimental, and can lead to…..
- Depreciation of self confidence
- Motivation to learn decreases
- lowering of self esteem
- The more you praise a student, the more their anxiety
increases due to the fact that you are giving them unrealistic
standards.
- Praising a student too much makes them stray away from their
ingenuity
Examples of good feedback: feedback should be a combination
of negative and positive and feedback should be directed about
the task at hand.

8. Motivation and
Rewards

9. Motivation and Rewards
• We all have both Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
• Intrinsic- Self motivation. Extrinsic- Motivation from someone
other than yourself.
- Factors that contribute to decreasing intrinsic motivation….
- Manipulation
- Negative relationships
- Racism, sexism and prejudice
- Inadequate leadership role
- Factors that contribute to decreasing extrinsic motivation….
- Bribing students

10. Motivation and Rewards
The Detrimental Effects of Rewards.
-Some examples of the ways in which rewards negatively effect
students….
- The reward could create a feeling of manipulation for
the student.
-The reward makes the student become distracted from
the lesson being taught.
- Devalues the task given by the teacher due to the fact
that the student is getting bribed.

11. Motivation and Rewards.
Strategies for Eliciting Intrinsic Motivation
-A few examples of strategies that elicit intrinsic motivation
are…
- Meets learners needs and goals
- Provide a sense of control and choice
- Encourage and provide for positive social bonding
- Support a sense of curiosity
-Engage strong emotions
(Jensen 122-123)

12. Motivation and Rewards
Rewarded Actions Lose Appeal
-When rewards are first given they are effective because they
are a new stimulant to the brain, but over time they lose there
effectiveness.
QUESTION? Should you ever use rewards?

13. Alternatives for
Bribery and
Rewards

14. Alternatives for Bribery and
Rewards
- If the lessons relate to the student or students then they will
in turn learn more due to the fact that the material has
personal value.
- It’s acceptable for students to get a reward once in a while,
but if rewards are used too frequently then they become a
bribe.

15. Alternatives for Bribery and
Rewards
What the Reward Proponents Say (Jensen 127-128)
1. Rewards are necessary (false)
2. The studies on intrinsic rewards are theoretical only (false)
3. Rewards are harmless (false)
4. The real world uses rewards (sometimes true)
5. Rewards are effective (sometimes true)

16. Goal Setting Increases
Performance
-Two types of goals are beneficial for the students:
-Extrinsic and intrinsic goals
-Extrinsic goals are given through teachers or guidelines
presented by the government (state and federal)
-Intrinsic goals are made by each respective student and are
more effective due to the fact that they are personalized for
each student
-Each student can monitor their own success and
compare what they have done to their goals