According to Aristotle , there are seven factors that motivate: beliefs(assumed truth), emotions(fundamental internal systems that kick us into action), goals(set ourselves to achieve our needs), interest ( attract our attention), motivating gaps (gaps that drive us forward) needs (pre-program drivers) and values(social rules).
Motivation is very important to the teacher and parent. Children need to be motivated to arouse his interest, stimulate his desire to learn and to direct interest and efforts towards the accomplishments of suitable purposes. The basic source of motivation is interest. Interest must be built up so the pupil will give attention to anything presented to him. It is sometimes hard to arouse the interest of the learner because of the choosy and fickle attention. Anything presented should be appealing to the intellect and emotions where one can easily identify with it.
In the early years of education, motivation comes easy. Children are naturally inclined to be curious and enthusiastic about learning new things. As childhood turns into adolescence, however motivation wanes. At this point parent and teachers must find ways to keep students engaged in the learning process.
While some students keep their natural enthusiasm for learning, and are often labelled geeks and ridiculed, most students` interest shift to socializing and status. Many parents and educators panic when faced with the task of motivating students. Panics leads to less tactics than wise tactics. Sometimes money is being offered for grades. While this will work in the short term, it is my concern that until students understand what a privilege education is, they will never truly be motivated. Motivation needs to come from the heart.
Applying the main theories of motivation to learning and teaching reinforces this, allowing motivation to be considered from both learners ‘and teachers` perspectives.
The teacher should have clear understanding of the growth process and of the development and changes which take place in the individual as he progresses to maturity, he should also have a clear understanding of teaching and the chief goal of the educative process. The teacher is one basic factor in motivation. He has to have certain qualifications that would make him more effective as a motivator. The basic factors that affect motivation are pupil, teacher and technique and devices.
By: Elvie R.Mendoza | Teacher III | Saysain Elementary School | Bagac, Bataan
