By Kimberly Tomeny
Motivation plays a key role in fostering student engagement and learning; however, many instructors face challenges maintaining student motivation during the semester. When instructors understand barriers to student motivation, they can more appropriately identify strategies to create an engaging learning environment. Below, we highlight common barriers to motivation and strategies to boost motivation throughout the semester.
Common Barriers to Student Motivation
- Lack of Relevance – Students’ motivation can decrease when they fail to see connections between the course material or assignments and their future professions or goals.
- Lack of Clarity – Students can become frustrated and disengage when assignments, grading criteria, course objectives or course materials are confusing and ambiguous.
- Lack of Autonomy – Students can lose interest in a course when they feel like they have little control over their learning.
- Lack of Community – Students can feel isolated in their learning when the course consists of limited opportunities for social connection and building community with their peers.
Strategies to Increase Student Motivation
- Make Learning Relevant – Consider ways to connect course content to real-world scenarios and events, students’ interests and students’ future career goals. Case studies, guest speakers and project-based learning can make learning meaningful and relevant.
- Set Clear Expectations – Ensure clear communication around assignments, grading criteria and course objectives. Consider scaffolding assignments or providing guided notes to increase structure and predictability and to promote students’ confidence in their ability to succeed in the course.
- Provide Options for Student Autonomy – Increase autonomy by giving students opportunities to make choices within the course. Consider allowing students to choose assignment topics or formats (e.g., written versus video reflection) to promote autonomy and motivation.
- Build Community – Create opportunities for students to connect with each other through in-class activities, collaborative assignments and discussion-based learning, helping them to feel valued and engaged.