Motivating Students through Teaching and Learning

Abstract

The interviews with the three groups of students resulted in a large body of data in which the students reported their perceptions of the types of courses and teaching and learning which motivated them to study. In this chapter, this database is analysed to produce a set of themes, which are used to characterise a teaching and learning environment conducive to motivating students to study. This is presented as a motivational teaching and learning environment framework. This chapter looks at the teaching and learning environment as a coherent entity. The elements of the teaching and learning environment are: establishing interest; allowing choice of courses; establishing relevance; learning activities; teaching for understanding; assessment of learning activities; close teacher–student relationships; and, sense of belonging between classmates. This chapter is organised by these elements of the motivational teaching and learning environment framework. It presents detailed descriptions from the interviewees of the types of teaching and learning which motivated or demotivated them. As such it provides a practical guide to how to design units and configure teaching and learning so that it will motivate students.