Monday, September 17, 2007
What motivates children to learn? Different perspectives from around the world.
QCA have conducted an international review of policy and practice regarding learner motivation looking at children aged 3-19 in twenty-five different countries.
Questionnaires were sent to governments of 40 countries, 25 of whom responded, illustrating a varied picture.
One fifth of all countries who responded did not have a policy on learner motivation where as others, such as Northern Ireland have re-designed the curriculum around learner motivation.
Three key themes emerged as central in successful policies for learner motivation.
* To give greater flexibility and choice in the curriculum.
* To emphasise differentiation and support for each student.
* To improve the personal and vocational relevance of the curriculum.
Personalisation by pieces meets these objectives in its design. The flexibility and differentiation is inherent in the tool and personal involvement through the assessment structure.
Motivation is increased by student involvement and also by the Teacher taking the role of facilitator. Many countries reported that the increased choice and control given to pupils in organising their own learning led to a need for re-training of teachers in a different role. Personalisation builds training for staff into the programme and an online forum and support are planned.
The study identified three teaching methods which increased motivation significantly.
* Using ICT in teaching and learning
* Practical and learner-centred teaching.
* Teaching that is individually tailored, differentiated and supportive.
Again Personalisation by Pieces has these objectives built into the framework. Using PbyP from day one requires all three of these to be adopted by the learner/teacher and institution. Blurring the traditional boundaries of the labels and roles of learner and teacher is a sign of success in using PbyP.
Read the research in full on the QCA website
Look out for the new Cambridge Education delegate courses on Motivation in the Classroom which appear in our new catalogue