Answer to Question #300365 in Sociology for Thando

Question

Discuss how the following conditions such as establishing inclusion, enhancing meaning and engendering competence in the learning environment can be created to improve learner motivation

Answer 1

The teaching-learning process is an inherently social act, and as instructors, we need to be mindful of the quality of the social and emotional dynamics in our course, because they impact learning and performance. There are a number of strategies instructors can implement to create a productive and inclusive climate. These strategies include; to learn and use students names, strive to be fair, examine your curriculum, and model inclusive language.

Motivation (enhancing meaning) has very specific importance in instruction and accomplishes essential goals that are necessary for lasting performance change. Motivation is often more important than the specific content when seeking to maximize the impact of instruction – particularly in eLearning, where relatively few social or external environmental factors are likely to inspire learners. Learner motivation accomplishes essential goals that are necessary for lasting performance change which include: directing behavior toward specific goals, increasing effort, and  enhancing cognition.

Engendering competence is all about creating understanding that students are effective in learning in something they value and this relates to the adult learners being self-directed, responsible for their own lives, pragmatic as they want to learn something that is relevant and useful, meaningful to their current lives or immediate futures. Being competent at something they value is closely related to the transfer of knowledge from learning environment to performance environment, and the relationship between competence and self-confidence is mutually enhancing.