Developing Intrinsic Motivation with Students
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Ross Morrison McGill founded @TeacherToolkit in 2010, and today, he is one of the ‘most followed educators’on social media in the world. In 2015, he was nominated as one of the ‘500 Most Influential People in Britain’ by The Sunday Times as a result of…
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How could developing intrinsic motivation improve student engagement, and how can teachers do it?
Intrinsic motivation, pivotal in developmental psychology, refers to engaging in activities purely for the inherent satisfaction they provide, rather than external rewards.
Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic motivation
In the research paper, ‘What is intrinsic motivation? A typology of computational approaches’ (Oudeyer and Kaplan, 2007) provide an example of a child completing homework:
“… a child that does [their] homework [thoroughly] might be motivated by avoiding the sanctions of his parents if [they did] not do it. The cause for action is here clearly external, and the homework is not done for its own sake but for the separate outcome of not getting sanctions. Here, the child is extrinsically motivated.
On the other hand, it is possible that a child could do thoroughly [his/her] homework because [they are] persuaded that it will help [them] get the job [they] dream of, later when [he/she] will be an adult. In this case, the cause for action is [intrinsically] generated, and the homework is again not achieved for its own sake but because the child thinks it will lead to the separate outcome of getting a good job.”
In research, ‘computational’ is a term that describes the research method used to understand and analyse mathematics algorithms and computer simulations. This helps the researchers simulate motivation into quantifiable formats to be tested in computer systems and robotics.
By integrating computational models that mimic this motivation, we can understand what influences foster environments that encourage students to explore and engage with new curriculum material.
Whilst this paper is not directly related to research or students in a classroom, it offers some takeaways teachers should consider.
Fostering classroom environments to engage
Teachers can use this research to understand how to create or improve learning environments prioritising intrinsic over extrinsic rewards. For example, in this research, ‘The Demotivating Effect (and Unintended Message) of Retrospective Awards’ (Robinson et al., 2018), suggested that when students were rewarded for their attendance, student attendance got worse! This retrospective award suggests extrinsic motivation (or rewards) was insufficient to encourage students to attend school.
An intrinsic solution would have required understanding deeper reasons that motivated students to attend independently. As a crude example, when schools organise a special event, occasionally a member of the public attends a school assembly (sometimes a famous sports star or similar). In the lead-up to these events, the school could use this to help encourage students to be self-regulated.
In a classroom example, introducing problem-solving activities that are inherently interesting and enjoyable without the need for external validation can promote a deeper, more sustainable form of engagement. Additionally, using technology that adapts to the needs of the task could increase engagement and motivation. How do teachers develop intrinsic motivation when some curriculum subjects are imposed on young people poses an interesting challenge.
Reflection questions for teachers
- How could teachers redesign their curriculum to develop intrinsic motivation?
- What role does technology play in supporting intrinsic learning in the classroom?
- How might student feedback be used to adjust activities towards intrinsic motivation?
- What implications does intrinsic motivation have for student wellbeing and engagement?
- How can school and college leaders support teachers in adopting these approaches?
- What potential challenges could arise from emphasising intrinsic motivation?
- How could intrinsic motivation influence classroom management?
- In what ways can peer interactions foster intrinsic motivation?
- What are the long-term benefits of focusing on intrinsic rather than extrinsic motivation?
- What practical examples can teachers use to bring this research to life?
Understanding intrinsic motivation is essential because it underpins how students engage with classroom material without the need for rewards.
Take a look at some blog posts and resources for some ideas.
