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BASIC HUMAN NEEDS AND STUDENT MOTIVATION

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs says there are three basic human needs that must be met so students may develop motivation:

Physiological needs – basic needs such as food, water and rest/sleep. When these needs are not met there is a struggle in focusing and engagement in learning.

Safety needs – basic needs of security in the learning arena. Lack of this led to elevated levels of stress, anxiety and disengagement.

Belonging and Love needs – basic needs of feeling valued, accepted and cared for. When not met feelings of isolation and being unmotivated rise.

SOCIOCULTURAL AND COGNITIVE FACTORS

Sociocultural and cognitive factors directly impact student motivation. Different cultural backgrounds and lifestyles may produce different values and education expectations. Learning disabilities and other cognitive factors can impact a student’s ability and efforts in staying motivated and engaged.

Teachers must create and inclusive classroom arena that values and respects diversity. Differentiated instruction must be implemented in order to meet each students unique learning needs.

Positive Educator Attributes and Student Motivation

Teacher attributes that promote student motivated learning include:

Empathy – learning and understanding the unique needs of the student fosters a supportive learning arena.

Passion – teachers that exhibit a passion for learning can motivate students to become passionate as well.

Negative Educator Attributes that hinder motivation:

Lack of enthusiasm – if teacher displays boredom or disinterest then students may lose interest as well.

Lack of support – not providing sufficient support may cause students to become disinterested in learning.

Motivation at Home/School

Strategies teachers may use to improve student motivation at home and school:

1. Clear Expectations – clearly communicate what is expected. this creates an avenue to succed.
2. Encourage autonomy – let students share in their learning by having a say. This fosters ownership and motivation.
3. Regular constructive feedback -students have clear understanding of where improvement is needed and how they are moving dforward in progress.

1. Developing Responsible and Autonomous Learners: A Key to Motivating Students. American Psychological Association.
2. The Role of Teachers in Motivating Students to Learn. Davion Johnson.
3. Strategies for helping students motivate themselves. L. Ferlazzo