Eduten is so much more than a math platform. It has a slew of extra superpowers embedded within. Using Eduten exposes students to growth mindset strategies, increases enjoyment in learning, and most importantly — it’s a tool for enhanced student motivation.
Because we train with thousands of teachers worldwide, we’re also privy to the challenges they face.
A common challenge reported by teachers and schools is student motivation.
Motivation is probably the most important factor teachers can focus on to improve learning.
At Eduten, we work with teachers to support and enhance student motivation in the classroom and share these top 5 tips:
- Develop and maintain meaningful relationships
- Promote growth mindset
- Give positive and constructive feedback
- Allow student autonomy
- Set clear goals and expectations
- Bonus tip: Be the teacher you wish you had
Below, you’ll find out how Eduten platform helps support these motivating factors as well as practical teaching tips to increase motivation in your school or classroom.
1. Develop and maintain meaningful and respectful relationships with your students.
Being an educator is based on relationship building. Without a solid, respectful, two-way exchange, it’s more challenging to facilitate deep teaching and learning practices. If your students trust and respect you, you can greatly influence the outcomes of your lessons.
The best methods for building relationships with your students are the same as with anyone in your life. Listen carefully, be curious, don’t jump to conclusions and be understanding when mistakes or misbehaviour (inevitably) happen.
2. Promote growth mindset over fixed mindset.
Students who believe their talent can be improved through hard work, good strategies and input from others, have a growth mindset. Students who believe that their talent is a gift from birth, and think they will never be good at certain subjects, use a fixed mindset. All humans sway between the two mindsets, but to increase motivation in students, we need to lean towards fostering a growth mindset.
“Children who understand that the brain can get smarter (growth mindset) do better in school because they have an empowering perspective on learning. They focus on improvement and see effort as a way to build their abilities. They see failure as a natural part of the learning process.” Carol Dweck
Eduten is inherently a growth mindset tool because it allows students to make mistakes without fear or shame. Using Eduten encourages students with real-time feedback and success markers.
Aside from using Eduten, another way for you to promote a growth mindset classroom is to model and celebrate mistakes that you’ve made. Demonstrate that mistakes are OK and a natural part of being human. Struggle should be acceptable and encouraged as a part of the learning process. Learning new things isn’t always easy — nor should it be expected.
3. Give positive and constructive feedback
We can support learning and motivation by giving students positive feedback when we notice students trying hard — especially if they’re struggling.
The right type of feedback should always be something from which the student can grow. Tip number one (developing meaningful and respectful relationships) helps to build openness and trust for the times when feedback needs to initiate change.
Always lead with something positive before you give constructive feedback.
Students can also practice getting into the habit of giving positive feedback to themselves and others. On the heels of tip two (promote growth mindset over fixed mindset), a good way for students to turn fixed mindset thinking into growth mindset practice is with the following examples. Use them as the basis for a discussion about positive/growth mindset self-talk.
I can’t do it! = I can’t do it yet.
This looks too hard. = This may take some time.
I failed again! = I wonder how I can do that better next time?
It’s good enough.= Is this really my best work?
This is boring. = Can I learn something from this?
Mistakes are scary. = Mistakes are scary but they help me learn.
4. Allow students control and responsibility.
When students are encouraged to be autonomous in their endeavors and we give them opportunities to work in their own way, they become intrinsically motivated to get the job done. With choice comes personal responsibility. If we can provide opportunities for our students to choose, the natural consequence is a personal inner fire to complete the task. This is also known as intrinsic motivation.
Eduten’s feedback system is instant and no fuss. This means that students take the next steps into their own hands and are in charge of their math practice. Eduten also allows for personalization of content which also supports motivation. If students can proceed at their own pace, there is less stress and more productivity and learning.
When was the last time you let your students choose what they wanted to learn or complete in class? Is it possible to give them a say in what they engage in? Is it possible to give them a choice to select tasks that they feel are meaningful to them? Even within the most prescriptive of curriculums, can you find ways to create choices for your students?
5. Set clear goals and clarify expectations.
“Why are we even doing this?” is a common question from lagging students. Sometimes school work has no relevance in a student’s eyes. They want and need to understand why they’re expected to engage in certain tasks. Please share your lesson objectives and goals.
A pro tip is to also have the class consider and discuss the scenario of not meeting those goals or objectives. It has been now proven that visualizing failure is an effective ongoing motivator.
Consider setting whole-class goals at first and then moving on to personal goals. Allow your students to set the standard for themselves. It’s also good to have high expectations for your class as well as teacher-led goals. Set high expectations and your students will meet you there.
Make expectations clear to your students every day. Support them with the inevitable struggle on the way to achieving their goals.
Eduten provides the opportunity for goal setting with its trophy reward system. You can encourage your students to set goals around the number of trophies that they earn in the short and long term. This is an effective method for the whole class and personal goal setting strategies.
6. Bonus tip: Be the teacher you wish you had.
Finally, when you find yourself dealing with a student who lacks motivation and you don’t know how to inspire them, think back to the type of teacher you might have needed if you lacked intrinsic motivation. Channel that teacher within and see if it helps spark a flame within you, and in turn, your students.
Hey, did you know that we also have a podcast about Finnish Education Perspectives? All of our guests are the best experts in Finnish education. Listen to it through your preferred podcast channel here.
References
Alderman, M. K. (1999). Motivation for Achievement: Possibilities for Teaching and Learning. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Publishers.
Ames, R., and Ames, C. “Motivation and Effective Teaching.” In B. F. Jones and L. Idol (eds.), Dimensions of Thinking and Cognitive Instruction. Hillsdale, N. J.: ErIbaum, 1990.
Balcetis E, Riccio MT, Duncan DT, Cole S. Keeping the Goal in Sight: Testing the Influence of Narrowed Visual Attention on Physical Activity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 2020;46(3):485–496. doi:10.1177/0146167219861438
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York: Random House.
Olson, G. (1997). Motivation, Motivation, Motivation — Secondary School Educators. Retrieved from sysiwyg://934/http://7-12educators.about...- 12educators/library/weekly/aa071897.htm.
Whistler, J. (1992). The Impact of Teacher Relationship and Interactions on Self-Development and Motivation. Journal of Experimental Education, 60(1), 15–30. https://grapeseed.com/us/blog/how-a-growth-mindset-and-neuroplasticity-boosts-learning/
