Motivation in Education

Before anything, what is motivation? Motivation is a state of mind that maintains one’s attention and behavior, and also it provides extra energy required to fulfill a task. Therefore, it helps to withstand the goals over a while. The same as that, motivation in education has an intense impact on children’s behavior, preferences, and results. Therefore, parents and teachers should have a clear awareness of the factors affecting the motivation of students.

Motivation in education is essential due to many reasons. For example, motivation directs our attention to the tasks we need to do and minimize and resist the distractions better. It impacts the perception of the tasks that may appear, whether it’s difficult or easy, and also it influences the amount of data we retain and store. So, motivation lets us do the tasks in short periods and maintains our attention all over a more extended period. In short, motivation drives us to perform and complete an action that is hard or even impossible to do effortlessly.   

Factors that Impact Motivation in Education of students

1. Class and Curriculum Structure

Children struggle when there is a disorder in structure. With prior prepared class materials and curriculum, they feel secured. So they can focus entirely on the learning environment.

2. Teacher Behavior and Personality

Students should have favorable emotions towards the teacher. If they dislike or fear the teacher, that can negatively affect their education. A teacher who can offer kindness, optimism, active listening, positive feedback, and encouragement will positively impact students’ motivation in education.

3. Teaching Methods

Using different teaching methods helps to create diversity and stops students from getting bored.

4. Parental Habits and Involvement

parental habits can indirectly affect students’ motivation, especially their intrinsic motivation. Parents have to show their interest in their kid’s learning material and always inquire about their day. Active listening helps a lot. Parents can help kids to master their tasks and skills. Also, attending parents’ meetings is so important. Parents can also be involved in encouraging their children to finish homework or studies for an exam.

5. Family Issues and Instability

Both classroom insecurity and the lack of security at home affects a child’s motivation negatively. Children who have both parents with fewer family issues perform well at school. Family disruptions and conflicts can lead to poor academic performance.

For instance, divorce, loss of one or both parents, having no contact with the biological mother or father, frequently moving from one home to another, or else being involved with Child Protective Services may influence children.

6. Peer Relationships

Problems and conflicts with peers can make kids feel insecure about their social status. For example, Bullying can also increase stress levels and decrease their motivation in education.

7. Learning Environment

School environments with different norms and regulations determine the general climate in the school. A positive school environment offers a secure feeling and also basic needs such as healthy social relationships. Too much learning will also lower the motivation of students. Adding enough time for play and fun elements in the schedule will have a positive effect.

8. Assessment

Once the students feel tests continually monotonous and challenging, they lose their motivation to learn. So, it’s essential to have different testing methodologies to address the various capabilities of kids.