In part one of this article, I explained the importance of developing pupils’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation (How can you motivate your students? SecEd, April 2018). But I also explained that telling pupils they have to pay attention in class because what we intend to teach will be useful in a few years’ time is a bit of a hard sell.
What pupils really need, I explained, is a more contemporary purpose and a more relevant reason to learn. In short, pupils need to know that paying attention is worth their time and energy today, not just tomorrow. The pay-off has to be immediate not years hence. Moreover, pupils need the pay-off to be related to their individual aspirations.
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