Motivating students to learn is a difficult task because, in today's world, students have a lot of things to grab their attention. The school of the society is running parallel to the school, in which many factors attract the attention of the students. But motivating students to learn is beneficial because motivated students are more eager to learn and participate in the classroom.
Teachers give leadership experience to students
Obviously, teaching a class full of motivated students is an exhilarating experience for a teacher. Also, the atmosphere of this classroom attracts the students. For example, in an intermediate college in Uttar Pradesh, the English period was kept in the 8th hour so that the students stayed in school till the last period. The English teacher's way of teaching and interacting with the students was such that all the students used to wait for the 8th period. The participation of the students in this topic was very good. Every student got a chance to speak and ask questions.
In one of her articles, Katrina Schechwartz writes, “How to improve education is often discussed among teachers and teacher educators. How to reach all the children in the classroom? Teach them what skills they will need during their college or university studies. But all these things happen only among adults. Indeed, the real test of an idea is in the classroom, however rarely it is when we ask students what they think about their education.
Student project showcased by the University of California
A panel of seven students studying in the school was formed, which works to make learning more intensive. In this, students share their opinion on various issues such as what learning or learning means to them. How can teachers create an environment in the school that is conducive to creativity, collaboration, trust, and failure, in which students want to participate on their own?
Project-based work is given a lot of importance in many countries outside. The panel of students encouraged the project to combine different disciplines. So that instead of making projects for each subject separately, students interested in different subjects can work together. A student said that by making a project in this way, every student would get some work of his choice. Students also got a chance to see the same project from different angles.
How to make a project involving different subjects?
Students told about a project that they had to research on how diseases occur and make a project on it. Biology and art were involved in this project. The students took a very different approach – they talked to their family members and videoed their experiences. In this, he also tried to know whether a certain disease is genetic.
One student was initially not very enthusiastic about the project, but later she liked the project as she was very interested in art. A student said, “We found our own solutions to our problems under the guidance of the teachers. It was challenging because we didn't know where we were headed, but I always felt like we were able to find the best solution."
The students were also very excited that their project had become a reality that they could display for the public to see. The project was selected by the University of California and displayed at the Art Gallery of San Diego. A student said, “The project was in front of us as a reality at the time of the exhibition. It wasn't something we were just doing for grades. Rather it was something we could do well and with beauty.”
Special things to motivate students
- Keep the challenge appropriate to the level of the students and give them opportunities for positive competition to find solutions.
- Start your period with questions, not answers – rote answering questions is boring. By doing this, you can retain the richness of the student's learning.
- Give students the opportunity and environment to grow from their best experiences.
- Give students assignments that match their interests.
- Give students a hands-on learning experience.
- Make students feel that you care about them as a teacher.
- Also, give personal feedback to students about their progress.
- Give students the experience of connecting their knowledge and understanding with the local environment.
- Use strategies that ensure child participation in the classroom and encourage students to ask questions.
- Delving deeper into a topic builds an interest in students that is more lasting. With this, students will be ready to learn further.
