The Use of Motivation in Teaching and in Learning

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In almost any case, motivation is the energy and vitality that pushes things forward. The educational environment is definitely no exception; in fact, it recognizes the value of motivation all too well. I believe that a classroom brimming with motivation is a passionate teacher’s paradise. I truly think that employing motivation is quite an enjoyable part of teaching. All I need to learn is how to find the right way to do so.

As of this time, I can’t wait to show my passion in educating and motivate my future students too; however, being a down-to-earth teacher, students will not always pay heed to me especially with their natural attention span. I’m certain there will come a day when I am effortlessly able to grasp their interests and I hope that day will come really soon.

According to my sources, there are multiple components in order to ensure a motivated class. First, I have to possess an amazing attitude, which is relative. Second, I have to be interesting, obviously. Third, I have to perfectly include each member of the class and make sure that they are all part of the discussion. Everyone is unique and can be the source of new possibilities. Fourth, learning competencies should be attainable – preferably moderately difficult – since not all of us would want a lesson that’s too difficult or otherwise – at least not me, that is. Next, leadership is also crucial, along with the things that follow such as the right amount of expectation, structure, feedback and support. The last sentence can be compared to the “authoritative” parenting style wherein there is enough demandingness and responsiveness from the parent, or in this case, the educator. Finally, we have to let them discover just how satisfying and learning can be.

All of these can be attained with the use of proper authentic materials as we have learned before, and these materials can come in all things, which makes it more of a challenge to teach.

Diverse Teaching Techniques, Strategies and Learning Styles

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Yet another of the countless features and qualities which define our individualities is the fact that we employ different learning styles. Knowing these learning styles is quite enjoyable and will serve as an advantage when employing the right methods for us, as well as for our students to learn and help them nurture their own abilities to perform, create and many other skills best.

Among the seven learning styles, – namely, Visual, Auditory, Verbal, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Logical and Kinesthetic – mine concurs most with the first three. Even if I wasn’t gifted in the field of art, it is only natural that I like to learn best given that the thing I am learning about is something I can see for myself. Paired with the Auditory learning style, I find these two quite fortunate to be my learning styles since I am often exposed to these two the most when it comes to formal or informal schooling like watching educational videos.

Whenever I am asked by my classmates about how I speak so fluently and accurately, I always inform them that it is because of my frequent voluntary exposure to Visual and Auditory authentic materials. I believe the Auditory learning style includes all things heard like words, music and the like so that covers a broad area indeed.

Presuming that I have acquired these results along with my classmates, one of my three best learning styles is linguistic capability - words, grammar, the macro skills, and all that. This is one of the intelligences that I am aware about myself which encourages me to take up a profession wherein I can use my skills to make a difference.

As with everyone else, while I am aware of some of the indicated qualities, such as my love for learning and observation, there are still traits which could have remained subconscious, if I were not to discover them by means of accomplishing the test. A clear example of this is the fact that another style was interpersonal or social intelligence. Some of my classmates may reckon with otherwise because they know me as a diligent person who ultimately prefers solitude. Then again, being silent does not necessarily mean I cannot be socially adept. Moreover, it is very appropriate and expected of us as educators to be interpersonally adept since interacting with people constitutes an essential part of our profession.

Carrying out the task of teaching is not easy. We have to be aware of their learning styles by carrying out diverse teaching techniques and strategies, encouraging us to be creative and reminding us to frequently use our minds, even if we ourselves are not formally enrolled in a curriculum, encourage them to perform and create things of their own, and show that they are allowed to make mistakes. It is our undertaking to teach them how to accept criticisms well and perceive them as opportunities to see what things they can improve upon. Teaching isn’t really teaching; our mission is to provide energy most conducive to fuel their environment to learn. After all, “We don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing it in real life and by falling over;” and that’s alright!

My Overwhelming Strengths Revealed

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It has been said that each person has his own strengths and weaknesses; whether a person considers a quality as either the former or the latter is relative, and everything that falls under them are various qualities that make us unique, distinctive and above all, human.

After having taken the intelligences test at literacynet.org, I’ve unveiled, yet again, a few other qualities about myself. According to the test, my top three intelligences, or top four rather, are, first and foremost, language, second was Social, and the third was a tie between Intrapersonal and Musical intelligence. Kinesthetic and Mathematical intelligences follow behind and the last one was Naturalistic intelligence.

Presuming that I have acquired this results along with my classmates, one of my three best intelligences and apparently the first of them is my linguistic capability - words, grammar, the macro skills, and all that. This is one of the intelligences that I am aware about myself which encourages me to take up a profession wherein I can use my skills to make a difference.

As with everyone else, while I am aware of some of the indicated qualities, such as my love for learning and observation, there are still traits which could have remained subconscious, if I were not to discover them by means of accomplishing the test. A clear example of this is the fact that my second best intelligence was interpersonal or social intelligence. Some of my classmates may reckon with otherwise because they know me as a diligent person who ultimately prefers solitude. Then again, being silent does not necessarily mean I cannot be socially adept. Moreover, it is very appropriate and expected of us as educators to be interpersonally adept since interacting with people constitutes an essential part of our profession.