Ch11 Blog 9/10

Ch 11 Blog, 9/10

One of the truly gripping topics from early on in this chapter was the concept of motivation as defined by the text. The reading described motivation as not just reasons for students success, but also a cause for the students to be more withdrawn and avoid classwork. The chapter then goes on to explain different basic human needs that a student will have, such as mental stimulation and a desire to feel competent, and implies that the teacher needs to do their part in providing an environment that is conducive to these needs. However, the suggestions that the textbook gives on page 367 are incredibly vague. It seems to me that there is no way of improving a child’s work ethic or whether they are intrinsically or externally motivated other than being an enthusiastic teacher. I remember in my high school years, I was so torn down by the idea of extrinsic motivation, the idea that this information and work that seemed irrelevant to me would have such an overbearing and all consuming effect on the rest of my life that it almost completely destroyed my intrinsic motivation to learn as well.

Another concept that seemed vague and elusive to me was the idea of bolstering students self determination with individual classwork. This concept seems contradictory to the lessons we've had in the past, and even later in the chapter on page 372, that discussed keeping the kids in small groups, and though the chapter did attempt to give an example on page 369, it actually failed to illustrate a concrete way in which a teacher could provide an structure or order for the work to be done in while still granting the children autonomy to do the work on their own.

I enjoyed this chapters look into the factors of motivation, and the needs that all humans 
require to be successful at a task, but at the end of the day I still find myself confused as to what exactly the best way to attack these concepts in the classroom would be. Wouldn't any attempt to be all inclusive ultimately leave a few stragglers left out? and if the answer is in individual work, how would you be able to help the children who are falling behind without singling them out? I feel these are incredibly important questions that I need answered before I work in a classroom of my own.