School is an educational institution that serves to motivate individuals to develop a desire to learn, and in turn, this can set the foundation for a successful future. However, as students progress into high school they often become disengaged in their academic journey, and this is evident in their attendance, getting into trouble, and dropping out of school altogether. Despite the overall increase in U.S. graduation rates over the years, there are still a significant number of teenagers and young adults that fall short of earning their diplomas and thus are ill-equipped for the working world. According to Jacquelynne Eccles, Ph.D, an education professor at the University of California, Irvine, students can become unmotivated for several reasons. “They don’t think they can succeed [in school]. They don’t think it’s important; they don’t see its relevance to their lives. It creates too much anxiety. It’s not taught in a way that’s interesting, so it has no appeal to them.†In an effort to implement greater motivation and engagement among students, educational psychologists have created several theories and strategies to help achieve this goal.
The academic mindset postulates that students have either a “fixed†or “growth†mindset depending on their views about the flexibility of intelligence. Students with a fixed mindset are discouraged by low scores because they perceive their intelligence as inflexible, therefore they feel intrinsically unable to perform well and ultimately succeed. On the contrary, students with a growth mindset relish learning for the sake of knowledge based on a flexible mindset. Poor scores would be viewed by them as a motivational challenge to improve rather than a discouraging defeat. Similarly, the expectancy-value model suggests that students will engage in school if they value the learning process and expect that they can do well. Therefore, by focusing on how school lessons are applicable to one’s life, students become more engaged in the learning process. Simple exercises such as writing essays about personal affirmations or the usefulness of school courses can build confidence and improve motivation, respectively.
In terms of applying such theories within classrooms, there are several ways to nurture student engagement such as hands-on activities, student-led discussions, and creating personal connections with supportive staff. Likewise, a system that focuses on comprehending the content rather than relying solely on grades would help students to genuinely learn new things without the pressure of test performance. The authors also encourage teachers not to compare students based on ability differences, and to provide smaller, more manageable lessons and goals for them to master. The use of technological devices for learning may also be a promising tool to promote positive learning, although educators are cautioned not to depend on such devices at the expense of student interactions. Overall, with the proper guidance and structure, there are many practical ways in which students can be motivated to engage in school and value what they learn.