Motivation is regarded by experienced and inexperienced teachers as a prerequisite for effective learning, and the greatest challenge that many teachers face is to make their students want to learn. If students do not want to learn, their learning efficiently will be so low that they may learn virtually nothing. If you know how to motivate students, you can hugely increase their learning rate. So, let's look at the ways to make student want to learn.
First of all, most teachers do not teach a subject which their students see as beeing of direct use to them. However, if you are teaching bricklaying to someone who wants to build a garden wall, or astronomy to someone dying to use their new astronomical telescope, your motivation problems will simply evaporate. We need, then, to try to make connections to their interests.
Secondly, young people often do not see the point of working for qualifications that they believe will be of no use to them when they school. To avoid this demotivating effect, which can occur in most learning situations, it is important that teachers underline the purposes of learning. To be convinced of the purposes of learning students must look at the world outside their college or school. Work experience, trips, visits and visitors can help to make learning seem relevant and purposeful. Students need frequent reminders of the short-term and the long-term point of studying, you need to “sell” what you are teaching.
Thirdly, students must feel that they make a success in learning. It' s a human nature to enjoy doing smth you are good at – and not to enjoy smth you are bad at. If they are usually successful in their learning, they will develop a positive belief in their ability to learn in your classes. Beliefs are permissions which swich on our capabilities.
Besides, students also want approval from their peers, or at least being sucessful in measuring themselves against their peers. This is why competitions and challenges...