Motivation in Learning

Abstract

Motivating the learner to learn is pertinent to curriculum implementation. This is because motivation is an influential factor in the teaching-learning situations. The success of learning depends on whether or not the learners are motivated. Motivation drives learners in reaching learning goals. It is important to recognize the fact that motivating learning is a central element of good teaching. This implies that learners’ motivation is probably the single most important element of learning. Learning is inherently hard work; it is pushing the brain to its limits, and thus can only happen with motivation. Students’ motivation to learn is of special importance because students’ mere presence in the class is of course, not a guarantee that students want to learn. It is only a sign that students live in a society where children are required to attend school. Highly motivated learners are likely to learn readily, and make any class fun to teach, while unmotivated learners may likely learn very little and generally make teaching painful and frustrating. Since modern education is compulsory, teachers cannot take learners’ motivation for granted, and they have a responsibility to ensure learners are motivated to learn. Teachers must persuade learners to want to do what they ought to do. This task— understanding and therefore influencing learners’ motivations to learn—is the thrust of this article. In order to ensure that the aims and objective of the curriculum is achieved, this article focuses on providing the teachers and educators with insight to the concept and types of motivation, motives as a goal, factors affecting motivation, importance of motivation, and strategies for motivating the learners.