This is a article is a part of the Teachers Lounge page under the "Motivational" heading where we try to share different stories that will make you want to keep teaching. That is what a lounge is about, a place to rest and gear up for more teaching.
This is highly entertaining video on scientific research of motivation. What is it that motivates us?
Please enjoy the clip and offer your thoughts afterwards:
For a moment think about the student perspective: We do not offer monetary incentives at all (with the exception of scholorships and grants for college level students) in education. We ask students to produce work with the incentive that if you perform well you get a good grade.
There is a lack of solid purpose in our schools for students to realize. The problem is that half of the teachers in our schools can't give a complete thought on why we teach, and the students certainly do not understand the purpose of education.
I would love to see a teacher challenge her students to create something new. Dr. Ken Robinson is right, we discourage creativity in schools. Education has to address this problem of how to motivate students!!!
Now take a minute and think about the teacher perspective. We are paid and there are many proposals and examples for pay incentives for teachers. However, how are we letting the teacher create anything.
The bueracracy of education is not only taking creativity and innovation away from the students but it is also crippling the teacher.
What percentage of our teachers create their own lessons? How many of our lessons are completly based on standards with no additions or subtractions from those lessons? How many school districts want only standard based lessons?
Like the point of this video, the purpose of education is to "Better the World", so motivate yourself and motivate your students.
