Motivating Students through Technology

Paulette R. Salomon, Supervisor of Educational Technology

February 23, 2011

What do MOTIVATED students look like?

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic Motivation • Relevant to the student • Fosters a sense of accomplishment

• Advantages: • Long-lasting • Promotes learning

Extrinsic Motivation • Not relevant to the student • Rewards-based • Short-term • Disadvantages:

• Distracts from learning • Once reward is removed, motivation is lost

Strategies for Motivating Students • Become a role model for students • Deliver lessons with energy and enthusiasm

• Your passion motivates students

• Make the work personal

Strategies for Motivating Students • Use a variety of student- active

teaching activities • Teach by discovery - PBL • Students find satisfaction when they

solve a problem or make a discovery on their own

Strategies for Motivating Students • Be free with praise and constructive

with criticism • Negative statements should pertain

to behavior • Stress opportunities to improve • Offer non-judgmental feedback

What do you do to motivate your

students?

Technology is an easy way

to motivate students

Traditional Classroom • Teacher-led • Textbook driven • Paper-pencil work • Traditional forms of assessment

21st Century Classroom • Teachers as facilitators • Technology • Students creating, collaborating, communicating, etc…

• Project-based learning

Some Teacher Challenges: • My students play around on the computer.

• All the websites I want to use are blocked.

• I can’t teach a lesson and fix computers at the same time.

Challenges Solved: • Use interactive sites that keep the students’ attention. Hold them accountable for doing the work.

• Preview websites first to make sure they aren’t blocked.

*In some cases, you can contact tech support to remove block.

• Assign a classroom helper who is tech savvy.

Technology works best when managed

Managing Technology • Have a Technology Management Plan • Rules • Rituals • Accountability • Trouble-shooting

Managing Technology • Rules

• KISS • 3 is usually enough • Keep them positive • Allow the students have input

Managing Technology • Rituals

• Model how to use the technology

• Have procedures in place (turning computers off, questions, etc...)

• Post procedures

Managing Technology • Accountability

• Log book/sign in sheet • Documentation

• activity • short summary sheet

• Discuss in conferences

Managing Technology • Trouble-shooting

• How will students handle issues?

• Student helpers • Sticky notes • Red cups

“My Technology Management Plan”

Activity

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Now that you have a plan....

Make the Content Relevant

• Integrate technology with your curriculum

• Use technology to reinforce skills

• Use it to expand what they already know

Make it Appropriate • Make sure it’s age/grade level

appropriate (if it looks like baby work, students aren’t going to be excited to do it)

• Make sure it’s appropriate to the student’s ability (Achieve 3000 sends articles on students’ reading levels)

• Make sure students understand the task

Make it Supportive

• Tell students how and where to find help

• Use student helpers

Assess It

• Use it as a quiz or classroom participation grade

• Have students use rubrics to assess their own work

Give students ownership • Allow students a choice when appropriate

• Have students record their findings

• Ask students for feedback • Have students set a goal

Introducing 21st Century Tools

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Wordle •  www.wordle.net •  students create word clouds or word art •  student-created activities motivate students •  43 ways to use Wordle in the classroom

•  http://tinyurl.com/43wayswordle

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Blabberize •  www.blabberize.com •  Teachers can create a message to motivate students •  Recording time: 30 seconds max

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Poll Everywhere •  www.polleverywhere.com •  Instant Feedback •  Allows students a choice with homework, type of quiz, a

class treat, etc... •  1 question

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Zamzar •  www.zamzar.com •  Allows you to show videos from You Tube •  Quick videos motivate students and helps build

background

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Our Story •  www.ourstory.com •  Makes learning personal

•  Students can create timelines and stories •  Can be used as a journal activity

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Work Session:

Explore a few of today’s sites

Try incorporating Technology into your

classrooms today

It’s about creating better

learning experiences

for our students

It just might motivate you too!