The Importance of Motivation

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1 1. What is motivation and why does it matter? This is the first in a series of six papers from the Center on Education Policy exploring issues related to students’ motivation to learn. The major findings from all six papers are summarized in the CEP report Student Motivation—An Overlooked Piece of School Reform. Education reform advocates have dedicated huge amounts of time and energy to improving public schools and raising student achievement. But with attention currently focused on factors like improving teacher quality, overhauling curriculum and standards, and developing new assessments, one major factor is being overshadowed: the motivation of the students themselves. Even with the best administrators, faculty, curriculum, and materials in place, if students are not motivated to learn and excel, achievement gains will be difficult, if not impossible. Higher motivation to learn has been linked not only to better academic performance, but to greater conceptual understanding, satisfaction with school, self-esteem, and social adjustment, and to lower dropout rates (Gottfried, 2009; Gottfried, 1985; Ryan & Deci, 2009; Ryan & Deci, 2000). Not only is student motivation the final piece of the school improvement puzzle—without it, the rest of the puzzle falls apart. Perhaps motivation is less discussed because it is such an amorphous and difficult subject. To even define motivation is challenging, let alone to measure it. To dig beneath the surface and really think about student motivation only brings up more questions. Are there “right” and “wrong” ways to motivate students to learn? Whose job is it to motivate students—and who is responsible when they are not motivated? Can a poorly planned student engagement program actually harm motivation? © Center on Education Policy The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development 2012

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