PD 660G - Applying Motivation Principles for a Positive Classroom Climate

In many of today’s diverse classrooms, teachers encounter varying levels of motivation in their students. Directing student motivation is a tool that can assist teachers in seeing positive academic and social growth within their classrooms. Recognizing the underlying theories and concepts behind a student’s motivation can enhance effective practice for teachers who may feel helpless at motivating students. This course provides educators with the opportunity to explore motivational theories in depth and apply them to classroom practice, engage in self-reflection, and collaborate with other teachers to find solutions to motivational hurdles in their classrooms. Topics covered in this course include goal orientations, attributions, fixed versus growth mindset, self-efficacy, and social learning theory. Teachers will be able to select course modules that they believe will best enhance their own understanding of motivation as well as add to their classroom practice. This course extends the theories covered in basic Educational Psychology courses into a focused, practical examination of motivation for classroom teachers who desire ways to motivate their students. This course provides a place for teachers to interact with each other through discussion boards and grow from one another’s ideas and experiences in addition to interacting with the course content.

Credit(s): 3