Running head: MOTIVATION
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Motivation
Rebecca E. Coursey
Southwestern College of Professional Studies
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Abstract
Cooperative learning may allow students to work together but issues may arise without the
proper motivation to learn. Kagan offers information on the best ways to keep students motivated
in the learning environment. His research includes the importance of praise and celebrations in
the classroom. This paper introduces the significance of both praise and celebration in the
learning environment instead of providing rewards and competition.
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Motivation
Cooperative learning structures help motivate students and enrich the learning
environment. According to Kagan, competition and rewards arouse student interest and
excitement (Kagan, 2009, pg. 16.1). Kagan structures are designed to allow students to
participate together in a group setting. They allow students to offer support to their peers along
with giving them individual accountability. His structures include praise and celebrations to
enhance rather than erode motivation. Rewards and competition have been found to decrease
motivation. Although giving students rewards can motivate them to learn for a while, it can also
steer them away from the learning as their attention wanes and they no longer receive them.
Competition may seem like a great way to keep thing exciting and fun in the classroom but it too
can cause issues. When students are learning in a competitive environment, someone has to take
the place of being a winner or a loser. It may be fun for the winner but having to be the loser isn’t
as enjoyable. This can cause low self-esteem in students who continue to struggle with losing.
Praise and Celebrations
As students complete projects, they enjoy receiving positive feedback. With our new
writing curriculum, students have been learning to build their writing stamina. We celebrate how
long their writing is getting. Students love to praise one another for their length of writing and
improvements. Celebrating their successes helps improve their self-esteem and helps them push
further in their goals to pursue a longer writing length. This positive feedback from their peers
helps them feel more confident about their writing ability. When students receive compliments
about their writing I can see their faces light up. It makes them feel good. I strive to create
positive learning environment where students make goals for themselves. The goals that the
students set for themselves allows them to work hard and makes them feel like trying their
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hardest to get there. I feel like students know that we will celebrate their successes which helps
motivate them to try their hardest.
Rewards Don’t Sustain Motivation
Cooperative learning allows students who struggle working alone. These students enjoy
working on a team and being able to work with their peers. Students may be motivated by peer
approval because they may not feel like they can gain it any other way. All students are different
and they may need a different learning environment to get motivated to learn. Rewards may help
get students to work hard to gain them, but they will not sustain their motivation to learn.
Students who lose interest in the learning that is taking place will not feel like giving their best
effort as the reward being offered is taken away. Some might think that giving a reward may help
students get excited about the skills being taught, but it only lasts as long as the reward is being
given. The learning that is taking place when the students are working for the reward will be
short lived because the reward will not last forever.
Motivating with the Curriculum
When implementing cooperative learning in the classroom, the teacher can help motivate
students to learn by taking a look at the curriculum (Kagan, 2009, pg. 16.8). By taking a moment
to evaluate the curriculum being taught, one can see whether it might be an issue as to why
students are lacking the motivation to learn. Teachers need to teach a curriculum that is fun and
inviting. Students should want to learn and be excited about it. One way that teachers can do this
is by checking to see whether their curriculum includes ways to get the students engaged.
Kagan’s structures offer many activities that can be implemented to promote a productive
learning environment where students want to learn. In order to motivate students to learn, the
learning must promote interaction between the students and their peers. The teacher can tell
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stories to the students to get them more involved and make it personal. Throughout the lesson it
can help to pose provocative questions to get students to think before they respond. When a
teacher has high expectations for their students they are more likely to want to meet those
expectations. I have used teambuilding and classbuilding activities in my classroom to help
develop a productive learning environment where my students feel safe and ready to learn. My
students’ are motivated to learn because they know that they can reach their goals if they try their
hardest. I am always giving positive feedback and praise.
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References
Kagan, S., Kagan, M. (2009). Kagan cooperative learning. San Clemente, Ca: Kagan Publishing
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