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CLASS 8:
Motivation and Adult Learners

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Objectives:
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:

  • Understand how motivation affects learning.

  • Examine the factors affecting an adult learner's motivation for  participating in educational opportunities.

  • Discuss the theories of motivation.

  • Assess and reflect on your own motivations.

In this lesson, we will examine adults' motivation for participating in educational oportunities.

Duplin Extension
 NCSU Microbiology Labs
 Pitt County Fair
 
Instructional Activities:
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The following readings by Raymond Wlodkowski from Enhancing Adult Motivation to Learn and Adult Learning Methods (Galbraith, Ed., 2nd ed.) provide straightforward and useful information on how to help instructors enhance adult learner motivation during the educational process.  


The first reading,"How Motivation Affects Instruction," presents the theory and research supporting that idea that motivation is necessary for competent adult learning. 

The second reading, "What Motivates Adults To Learn," takes a look at the factors that motivate learning along with a model for making instruction consistently motivating.

The third reading "Strategies to Enhance Adult Motivation to Learn," is an updated review of the concepts from the previous readings but also includes a few other concepts.

These readings can be found in the Class 8 folder in WebCT Vista.
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Read  pages 199-201 (Motivation to Learn) of Chapter 9,  "New Perspectives On Andragogy," in The Adult Learner by Knowles et al. Other sections of this chapter will be covered later; however, feel free to read the entire chapter.
small red globe Huitt provides an overview of the different motivational theories.
small red globe What's your motivational style?  Complete this 10-question assessment by Conner to see how you are motivated to learn.
small red globe Huitt discussed several different motivational theories.  One of these was Achievement Motivation which is also known as the Three Need Theory (David McClelland).  Analyze how you are motivated by completing this short assessment.  When you have completed the assessment, transfer your answers to the answer key and tally your answers by the three different motivators (the highest number equals your primary motivator).  Read about the characteristics of people by each of these motivators.  Do these characteristics reflect you?
Assignments: Discussion:
  • If you have not done so already, please submit Personal Reflection Journal #2 (classes 5-7) by the end of the class (Sunday, March 15).  Please upload your completed journal in WebCT Vista (under Assignments).

  • Begin thinking about your Adult Learner Interview assignment (Due April 26).  Review the syllabus for a description of this assignment along with the interview guide posted in WebCT Vista.
After you finish this lesson go to the course discussion board and respond to the question posted (and at least one peer's response).
 
 


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