One of the biggest takeaways for me is that both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation play important roles in student success, but they serve different purposes. Intrinsic motivation comes from within the student, such as a genuine interest in learning, curiosity, or personal growth. Extrinsic motivation comes from external factors like grades, praise, rewards, or recognition. While extrinsic motivators can help students get started or stay on track, intrinsic motivation is often what leads to deeper learning and long-term engagement.
As an instructor, I want to create learning experiences that help students find personal meaning in the material rather than simply completing assignments for points. I plan to connect course concepts to real-world situations, provide meaningful feedback, offer students choices when appropriate, and celebrate progress instead of focusing only on final grades. By fostering both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, I hope to create a classroom where students are engaged, confident, and motivated to become lifelong learners.
One question I continue to think about is how we can best motivate students who have experienced repeated academic setbacks and no longer believe they are capable of succeeding. Finding ways to rebuild that confidence may be one of the most important aspects of effective teaching.
