Develop Student Motivation to Succeed

There is much that educators can do to increase students motivation to succeed on an assignment, in their course, in a degree program, and in the profession. Particular strategies that have been shown to be effective include:

• Make the learning real and relevant for the students.
• Provide students opportunities for choice, either in what or how they learn.
• Help students strategize a path to success when they are struggling.
• Connect students to the profession through speakers, research experiences, or project based learning

Demonstrate Cultural Relevance »
Engaging student interest is crucial to learning. Showing how geoscience and sustainability are relevant to students' lives and things they care about are key ways of doing that. Looking at important local issues, examining how socioeconomic differences affect environmental challenges and outcomes, and ensuring that faculty make use of good active learning teaching methods can go a long way to hooking student interest.
From a synthesis of lessons learned by InTeGrate Implementation ProgramsGenerate Community Involvement »
Using community-centered activities creates the necessary environment for awareness, planning, and change. By taking ownership of community environmental challenges, partnerships between community members, students, faculty, and institutions can be empowered to find mutually agreeable solutions that benefit each and all of the parties. Affective Domain: Motivating Students »
The On the Cutting Edge program developed an extensive resource on motivating students as a part of its module on the Affective Domain in the Classroom. Integrate Professional Preparation into your Program »
The Building Strong Geoscience Departments project showcases strategies for mentoring students as they imagine and then prepare for a career path. Undergraduate Research »
The advantages of undergraduate research to students include but extend far beyond developing research methods skills. Through the engaged learning that occurs, students develop in both cognitive and affective respects, strengthen personal and professional skills, and develop more focus to their career and graduate school aspirations.