SALLY FLINT
  • Blog
    • Books
    • Education
    • Family
    • Modern World
    • Self Musings
    • Travel
  • About
  • Books
  • SHOP

Best Book Club Questions and Reviews

It's not Intrinsic, but it's Inspired!

1/10/2017

Comments

 

Is Intrinsic Motivation better than Extrinsic Motivation?

These days education seems to be all about intrinsic motivation. We shouldn't give out stars or stickers or small gifts to encourage students to achieve. We all know that this is superficial extrinsic motivation when it is intrinsic motivation that leads to embedded success. I agree of course and know it is good to 'want to do well' without any external gratification, but is there really any harm in a little bit of bribery to get things going in the right direction? I wonder how often on a day to day basis we do resort to bribery to get not only our students, but also our peers and family and friends, to do what we would like them to. Personally, I am a shameless briber and use extrinsic motivation a lot.  Whether it is the promise to my husband of a free afternoon on the golf course away from the family, if he does the shopping first; or a trip to the cinema if home-learning is completed without any fuss, I am more than happy to use bribery and a reward to get the outcome I desire!

Example of Extrinsic Motivation

​I have then, without an ounce of shame, adopted the, what I call, 'Santa Strategy for Reading' to motivate 'reluctant readers' to enjoy books. If you haven't heard of this technique, it uses a healthy amount of make believe and magic and a splash of bribery and materialistic gain, to persuade children that reading is cool and has had, for me at least so far, a 100% success rate. It is extrinsic motivation. So, if like me, you lack scruples and don't mind a bit of old school bribery then this might be a great technique to try. This is what you need to do
.
  • Find out what film, TV series etc your 'reluctant reader' loves. This may be Star Wars, Harry Potter, whatever the current trend is.
  • Educate yourself just a little bit about the topic so you know how the characters in the series are likely to act and what they might say.
  • Create attractive letter writing paper by cutting and pasting google images onto a word document.
  •  Write a letter from your reluctant reader's favourite character to them encouraging them to read. For example, in the letter you may invite your reluctant reader to join their 'secret' reading club or take a reading challenge.
  • To maintain reading momentum offer incentives and rewards in follow on letters sent to your hopefully no longer 'reluctant reader', eg a new book, a signed copy of a photo, a certificate of reading.
​These strategies work along with reading aloud to help develop children's love of books.
personalized reading certificate for extrinsic motivation
personalized reading certificate for extrinsic motivation
letter for extrinsic motivation

Extrinsic Motivation is very Powerful

​There is no doubt that your small person will love the attention of having a personalized letter sent to them. They will genuinely feel like their hero has paid a special visit and singled them out as being worthy of positive attention.   Consequently they will want to be part of 'the secret reading club' or take the 'reading challenge' outlined in the letter to them. Their esteem will go through the roof as they have praise heaped on them for engaging in reading. This extrinsic motivation is a tool that can then lead into exploring intrinsic motivation further.
 
So my claim is that something as simple as an imaginary letter sent from a child's hero to them can motivate them and help them become avid readers. If that is even a small possibility, then I think Santa would completely approve of using a little bit of magic and bribery to get there. Extrinsic motivation, in the short term, at least is a valuable tool 
Comments

    Author

    Sally Flint

    Categories

    All
    Books
    Commercial
    Education
    Family
    Modern World
    Self Musings
    Travel

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    April 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017

      Sign up for updates!

    Subscribe
    Picture
    Picture

Get In Touch!

©Sally Flint 2019
  • Blog
    • Books
    • Education
    • Family
    • Modern World
    • Self Musings
    • Travel
  • About
  • Books
  • SHOP