Motivate our students to learn

By Melissa Rohr
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
November, 2010

Today's topic in class was motivation, and we got deeper into it by watching October Sky. It's sad to see that Homer's father is unsupportive of his efforts to build the rocket but that unfortunately is the harsh reality of the world, not everyone always receives the support from their family. I think the main reason for Homer's motivation was not only his socio-economic status but that of his whole town. The town being a mining town was stricken with poverty and according to the unwritten "rules" he was to be a miner one day too. This in turn motivated him to deviate from the norm and do something different with his life for a change.

It is unfortunate that students are not highly motivated to learn today. It has to do with the fact that students do not truly understand why they are in school and why they have to learn. Some feel they are in school because they "have to be there". Realistically everyone should receive an education but most do not understand or know the true reason as to why they are there. We go to school to learn the skills necessary in life to be effective, productive members of society. Now if a student does not understand this they will not be motivated to learn in any way. The only way to effectively learn as an individual is to have the will or motivation to learn. A person can push an individual as much as they want to learn but it truly comes from within. However, the people around the individual should play a very supportive role to help them stay motivated.