Two Types of Motivators: Intrinsic & Extrinsic | Origin: ED112
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Influencing Student Motivation --> Two Types of Motivators: Intrinsic & Extrinsic
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
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.
As an instructor, you can utilize intrinsic motivation to connect students' interests by creating meaningful learning experiences. While also using extrinsic motivation such as recognition to encourage progress. Eventually, students would be able to use external rewards to develop their own internal motivation to learning.
Both of these are really effective, I will use them both.
From this module, I learned the importance of understanding the key concepts and applying them in a practical way. It helped me see how these ideas connect to real-world situations and how they can improve my skills moving forward. I intend to apply what I learned by being more intentional, reflective, and consistent in my work.
The role of extrinsic motivation is to reach intrinsic motivation.
Students must be knowledgeable about intrinsic and extrinsic motivation because both are needed. There are points in life where you may only have one or the other.
Motivating with things is useful to a point. Too much can have a negative effect. You only want to use extrinsic until their motivation becomes intrinsic. Becoming a sense of security.
Intrinsic motivation usually produces better results. It is self-driven. it is also longer lasting.
I find it important as an instructor, that even though they are motivators, not to offer many rewards. In the past when offering rewards I learned that most of the time that's what was keeping them engaged but not really
I find it helpful to utilize class outings that align with course materials. This allows for a balance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for the students.
I have learned an effective classroom balance of both types of motivation, where Teachers can spark intrinsic motivation by connecting lessons to students' interests, offering choice, and creating meaningful, relevant learning experiences. At the same time, they can use extrinsic motivators strategically-such as recognition, goal setting, or rewards-to encourage effort and celebrate progress. Over time, the goal is to gradually shift students from relying on external rewards to developing their own internal drive to learn.
I use both styles. The new students, I use extrinsic motivation to keep them on their goals and tasks until it becomes its own reward for them. I will give them recognition verbally or take the class on a field trip if they meet all the goals. Then, the later students, I tend to use more intrinsic motivators that they have developed to keep them pushing toward bigger goals or more satisfying goals.
the over use of extrinsic motivation can actually harm a students intrinsic motivation and should be used sparingly
In this module I learn that influencing motivation, or intrinsic motivation is way more sustainable than extrinsic motivators ,while grades and deadline definitely get things done in the short term with something, I try my best to make it personally meaningful rather than just checking a box This makes me want to tweak my own goals to a degree instead of solely focused on the end results, wanting to create an environment where people around me feel free and capable rather than just managed by reward cause this is most cases is where the best work happens.
They both have their place in the world of education. How the instructor perceives the intrinsic and extrinsic motivators of the students plays a major role in the how the class should be structured.
I've learned that it all depends on the students learning style starting with a clear distinction between where the spark comes from
INSTRINSIC MOTIVATION (the internal spark ): like when a student does something because it is satisfying, interesting or enjoyable .
like when practicing difficult techniques because they find the challenge enjoyable.
EXTRINSIC MOTIVATION ( that external push ): when a student is driven by outside factors - rewards ,grades ,praise , they avoid a negative consequence .
Intrinsic Motivators, Internal motivation,
Extrinsic Motivators, External Motivation, encourages people to do things they wouldn't normally do.
I will focus more on intrinsic motivators because they are more effective and longer-lasting. They support the need for security for the adult learner.
