By Meghan McKillop
EDI 17 Psychology and Development of Adolescent Students
EDI 17 Psychology and Development of Adolescent Students
School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
February 24, 2010
Many high school students in today’s schools experience low levels of motivation to learn. While I believe that one’s motivation depends on the individual, many of today’s high school students seem to be less motivated than students in the past. I believe that this decreasing motivation is the result of several factors.
First, I believe that there are a plethora of distractions that divert high school students’ attention from learning and schoolwork. The accessibility of technological devices and the pervasiveness of mass media (television, film, video, and computerized imaging to an increasing degree) has provided a plentiful variety of activities and preoccupations that can occupy students’ time and attention; computers, video games, cellphones, iPods, and TVs are all temptations that currently entice students. Many high school students are more concerned with interacting with friends and enjoying themselves (listening to music, watching television/movies, playing video games) than focusing more of their time and effort towards learning and schoolwork. As a result, decreasing numbers of high school students are establishing personal goals and future ambitions that can motivate them to work hard and achieve success in school. So many of today’s students are focused on the here and now, giving little consideration to what the future holds; although it is perfectly acceptable for adolescents and young adults to enjoy their youth, high school students’ preoccupation with enjoying the conveniences of modern life has caused many of them to become less motivated to learn and remain engaged in school.
Second, I believe that a sense of entitlement characterizes many of today’s high school students. Many students believe that it is their right to attend college; they expect that they will gain admission to college and that their parents will provide them with the support and resources to attend the school of their choice. Since many students assume that college acceptance will not be an issue for them, they do not feel as impelled to motivate themselves to focus on learning and schoolwork and to improve their academic achievement. The prevailing sense of entitlement in our society causes many adolescents and young adults to consider themselves at the center of the universe; everything they want or expect will go their way because they see themselves as important and deserving. As a result, there is less of an imperative for students to work hard in school and ensure that they maintain high academic performance; either there will be no issue and they will undoubtedly be accepted to the schools of their choice (as they expect) or their parents will intervene to guarantee that situations will work in the favor of their children.
Third, I believe that teachers and the curriculum are failing to engage many high school students. A considerable amount of classroom focus in today’s classrooms is devoted to preparation for state and national exams. Although not representative of all teachers, some teachers allow the requirements and preparations for these tests to completely dominate the ways they teach and engage their students. When students do not feel a connection to what they are learning, they are less likely to motivate themselves to devote considerable effort and interest in the class and in the learning material. I think that teachers need to find ways to provide their students with opportunities to develop connections to the curriculum as well as diversify their teaching methods/techniques to keep students actively engaged and involved.
Long Island University, C. W. Post
February 24, 2010
Many high school students in today’s schools experience low levels of motivation to learn. While I believe that one’s motivation depends on the individual, many of today’s high school students seem to be less motivated than students in the past. I believe that this decreasing motivation is the result of several factors.
First, I believe that there are a plethora of distractions that divert high school students’ attention from learning and schoolwork. The accessibility of technological devices and the pervasiveness of mass media (television, film, video, and computerized imaging to an increasing degree) has provided a plentiful variety of activities and preoccupations that can occupy students’ time and attention; computers, video games, cellphones, iPods, and TVs are all temptations that currently entice students. Many high school students are more concerned with interacting with friends and enjoying themselves (listening to music, watching television/movies, playing video games) than focusing more of their time and effort towards learning and schoolwork. As a result, decreasing numbers of high school students are establishing personal goals and future ambitions that can motivate them to work hard and achieve success in school. So many of today’s students are focused on the here and now, giving little consideration to what the future holds; although it is perfectly acceptable for adolescents and young adults to enjoy their youth, high school students’ preoccupation with enjoying the conveniences of modern life has caused many of them to become less motivated to learn and remain engaged in school.
Second, I believe that a sense of entitlement characterizes many of today’s high school students. Many students believe that it is their right to attend college; they expect that they will gain admission to college and that their parents will provide them with the support and resources to attend the school of their choice. Since many students assume that college acceptance will not be an issue for them, they do not feel as impelled to motivate themselves to focus on learning and schoolwork and to improve their academic achievement. The prevailing sense of entitlement in our society causes many adolescents and young adults to consider themselves at the center of the universe; everything they want or expect will go their way because they see themselves as important and deserving. As a result, there is less of an imperative for students to work hard in school and ensure that they maintain high academic performance; either there will be no issue and they will undoubtedly be accepted to the schools of their choice (as they expect) or their parents will intervene to guarantee that situations will work in the favor of their children.
Third, I believe that teachers and the curriculum are failing to engage many high school students. A considerable amount of classroom focus in today’s classrooms is devoted to preparation for state and national exams. Although not representative of all teachers, some teachers allow the requirements and preparations for these tests to completely dominate the ways they teach and engage their students. When students do not feel a connection to what they are learning, they are less likely to motivate themselves to devote considerable effort and interest in the class and in the learning material. I think that teachers need to find ways to provide their students with opportunities to develop connections to the curriculum as well as diversify their teaching methods/techniques to keep students actively engaged and involved.
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