Motivating Students to Learn Course

Motivation is the energy that gives behavior direction and focus, and can be understood in a variety of ways. This free online course will teach you about the different theories on motivation and you will learn how to create a classroom environment that encourages motivation. One perspective on understanding motivation is behaviorism, where underlying motives are equated to outward expressions. Other perspectives are based on cognitive theories, and you will learn how to generate interest in a topic and to encourage achievement goals that increase motivation. Students’ attributions about the success or failure of a task also affect their motivation; you will learn how to create an environment that will encourage positive attributions. This free online course will help you discover how to encourage high self-efficacy beliefs in a student, as high self-efficacy can affect motivation positively. The self-determination theory is based on the idea that everyone has basic needs that must be fulfilled before they can be fully motivated, and you will learn how to ensure that these needs are fulfilled in your classroom. The course will then teach you how to combine elements from the different theories through the TARGET model, and create a positive learning environment that promotes motivation.