Motivating young students to learn

Motivating Young Students
To Learn

Help them establish goals and interests.
Publish. Reinforce and internalize.
Motivate learning.

Art by Shino from Japan

Around the world, students seem less interested in school and school work. Experts say the solution is to make learning meaningful and relevant . Students must be able to link school activities to their personal lives, to what they want. Only in this way can their motivation to learn be made long-lasting.

When registering in Kidlink, students must tell who they are, what they want to be, and how they want the world to be better. Their answers become part of a public, personal self-presentation (a KidPage), which help them meet peers. Also, their answers let teachers discover what might motivate an individual student to learn.

Some students decide what they want out of life before they reach 16. Most students do not. They are still reviewing options, and may answer differently if asked tomorrow, or next year. Often, they'll need guidance on what to do.

Each time a student's wishes and goals change, different ways of motivating learning may be needed. So, periodically ask students to reconsider their answers. Their old answers is kept so that a student can study how the mind changes over time, but will be hidden to visitors.

To develop and reinforce students' wishes and dreams for their future, begin with Who-Am-I?, My Future Job, Making Our World Better, and KidArt. Exploit the programs' suggested connections to your curriculum, and life-skills training to make it relevant to your teaching goals.

Kidlink Contents Summary | Let students still reviewing options see what others want out of life.