OCR Text |
Show lessons, Fail 2003 page 3 anything." "It all comes down to motivation. A lot of people say they don't have any motivation but it's really that they don't know what motivates them/' suggested Patterson. "I think that until these people find the will and motivation, they won't improve their attitudes and behaviors." What motivates some students to do well in school and earn high grades? Having a 4.0 on your transcript doesn't provide joy in itself. Heidi Blitch, an adjunct professor in the department of English and creative writing, believes, "students work for tangible goals and rewards like getting a scholarship and gaining entrance to graduate school or wanting to succeed for teachers they enjoy, but most of _______________ all, it boils down to money." Being honored and acknowledged by making the dean's list, winning a scholarship, or being accepted to graduate school are results of earning good grades. Students also want to make a good impression on teachers in order to get a nice letter of recommendation or permission to list them as a resume reference. All of these motivations are rooted in financial benefits like scholarships, a nice grad school ------------------------ stipend, or a better job. Money is a big motivator. "I have met very few students who don't really care about their grades," said Jerry Root, an associate professor in the department of lanuages and literature. "Some simply feel that they deserve good grades because they have always gotten them. I would be very impressed to see someone care more about learning rathen than focusing obsessively on grades." Today, American society measures success by how much money one earns, and students aren't above such materialistic motivations. In fact, financial gain influences students' decisions when declaring a major because they want to get a degree in something that will not only help them become a successful professional but earn them the big bucks. In Alan Smith's opinion, rarely do students enroll in courses because they're just "interested" or out of their "love" for the subject matter. What can the faculty do to motivate learning over getting good grades? Good teaching is a factor because it can also help students realize what they must emphasize. As Plato said long ago, "one needs to know something about the learner to teach them." Many students believe that enthusiastic professors who love what they teach are better at motivating students. "They become our role models when we see their passion for doing and teaching something regardless if they're not making a lot "It all comes down to motivation. A lot of people say they don't have any motivation but it's really that they don't know what motivates them." of money from it. It really rubs off on us and makes us actually want and look forward to going to class," said Vivian Wang, a computer animation senior. "Professors who pay attention to their students' needs, personalities, priorities, who, in short, engage with students , are always in a better position to teach them well and help them succeed," noted Jerry Root. "When we show that we care about the material we teach and are interested in students' responses by giving feedback, students enjoy the class more and will naturally want to do well." Root also feels that "it is crucial for teachers to not lecture all the time but to interact with students because everyone's smart in different ______________ ways so there's a lot we can share and learn from each other." Interaction is important. Although lectures are necessary to introduce a lot of information, conducting discussions and group activities are an effective way to stimulate student interest. It not only makes the class less boring but challenges students to develop their intellectual abilities. Alan Smith believes, "the grading system is detrimental to the mastery of college ------------------------- level material because it places too much emphasis upon getting a grade rather than on obtaining a mastery of the subject matter." Smith added, "Grading should be secondary and only reflect the student's ability to go on to a higher level." Certainly, earning high grades is a goal for many students, but learning should be the priority. Mary Gould, communication instructor, discusses a grade with a student. |