Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in the Classroom

By being more intrinsically motivated, we can find enjoyment in our activities regardless of the outcome; we have inner confidence and don’t need external validation; and we can persist through setbacks by taking the long-term view. There is a spectrum between pure extrinsic and pure intrinsic motivation.

Extrinsic motivation helps students become driven and competitive, while intrinsic motivation supports seeking knowledge for its own sake. Ultimately, fostering both types of motivation helps students develop good study habits and an investment in learning.

1. Create a student-centered classroom. When students are involved in their own learning, they are more intrinsically motivated.
2. Promote a mastery goal, rather than a performance goal.
3. Encourage students’ actions, not their character or person.
4. Provide learning goals.
5. Have high, but realistic expectations for students.

Ways to cultivate intrinsic motivation in students:

1. Rethink Reward.
2. Atlassian Autonomy.
3. Make Mastery Cool.
4. A Higher Purpose.
5. Make students feel like education is a choice, not a requirement.
6. Don’t use fear of punishment as a motivator.
7. For learning management, expect self-direction, not compliance.

If you volunteer for a community food bank because you derive motivation from helping others, you are likely well-motivated by intrinsic factors.

• Extrinsic motivation.
• Incentive motivation.
• Achievement motivation.
• Power motivation.
• Fear motivation.
• Affiliation motivation.
• Competence motivation.
• Attitude motivation.

Page actions. There are two main types of motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic, that are typically used when trying to decrease unwanted behaviors and increase(motivate) positive outcomes.