• How Motivation Effects Learning
• Why are you at Penn State?
• Why are you in the major you chose?
• How you can maintain your motivation

There are many good reasons for pursuing a college degree. Yet many of us are not sure why we are. Without these reasons, we are unmotivated. And if we are not motivated to be here, our ability to learn is compromised. Learning of one kind or another occurs throughout our lives. It started at the moment our lives began and will continue until the day we die. For us learning is innate, and we are compelled to do it whether we are aware of its occurrence or not. Yet while we are born with the ability and the necessity to learn, we are not necessarily born with the ability to learn in specific, formal settings. A university is an institution of formal learning, and to be successful at such an institution like Penn State we must learn to adapt our natural predispositions to learning to its requirements. This adaptation is often times difficult, especially considering the amount of work necessary to be successful, and requires motivation.

Motivation in a general sense is that which influences the arousal, selection, direction and maintenance of all human behavior. …Students require some form of stimulus to activate, provide direction for, and encourage persistence in their study and learning efforts. Motivation is this energy to study, to learn and achieve and to maintain these positive behaviors over time. Motivation is what stimulates students to acquire, transform and use knowledge (Groccia, 1992, p. 62).

According to Groccia (1992) “People study and learn because the consequences of such behavior satisfy certain internal and/or external motives” (p. 62).Let’s begin with your motivation to attend Penn State. Why are you at Penn State?

As students, we often forget that our time spent learning at Penn State is just a small but integral part of a lifetime of learning. Learning does not begin and end at the gates of Penn State, but rather, we have learned much and shall continue to learn long before and after our time here. Hopefully, our time here will be significant for us both now and in the future.

We come to Penn State with certain expectations, yet many of us are quite uncertain of what we shall really find. Travelers must be prepared for the unexpected –experienced travelers use travel guides. Let this web site’s content and connections to other sources at Penn State and beyond be your travel guide to academic success. Knowing what you want, and knowing much about your self will give you the motivation you need to travel a successful path.

Before you proceed with this module, take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions.

• Why are you taking this collegiate journey?

• Where do you want to go?

• Where do you expect to go?

• What routes will you be taking along the way?

• What do you plan to see?

• Who do you expect to meet?

• Where are you coming from?

There are many good reasons for coming to Penn State. Many different people come to Penn State for a variety of reasons, and with these diverse perspectives come numerous ways of learning. …Into every moment of your life you bring something from all of your past experiences, just as you shall bring something from everything you do now into the future. In the future you will expand upon your current interests and knowledge. A university experience helps you to grow and learn, but you must bring something to it in order to gain from the experience.

• Introduction to MAJOR DECISIONS http://www.psu.edu/dus/md/mdintro.htm
• Some Common Misperceptions about Choosing a Major http://www.psu.edu/dus/md/mdmisper.htm
• Five Questions http://www.psu.edu/dus/md/mdfiveq.htm

1. What are your interests?
2. What are your abilities?
3. What are your values?
4. What are your motivations?
5. What are the realities?

• Directory of MAJOR DECISION points http://www.psu.edu/dus/md/mdconts.htm.  This directory will point you to many resources for additional help and consideration about choosing a major

• Change of Campus Location  http://www.psu.edu/ouic/intro/fivecom.html

How can you maintain your motivation for learning?

According to Groccia (1992) applying the following principles of reinforcement together with general motivation tips should get you energized and directed toward higher levels of academic success. Click here to go to our Motivation packet (incomplete at this time).

1. Establish a learning-oriented environment.

2. Learn to recognize and capitalize on your intrinsic interests and natural needs for competence, curiosity satisfaction, and achievement.

3. Set and attain realistic goals.

4. Take initiative in your learning.

5. Encourage and get informative feedback and external control as necessary.

6. Use reinforcement principles to increase motivation. In some situations, the use of tangible rewards might be helpful to improve, increase, or maintain good study behaviors.

a. The first step in learning to systematically use external rewards to increase motivation to specify what rewarding for you.

b. Learn to reward yourself after studying for some predetermined time or after finishing a certain number of problems.

c. When learning a new behavior or studying a low-interest subject, begin with a high reward-to-work ratio.

d. As you learn to study this low-interest subject, gradually increase the amount/time of studying done to earn your reward.

e. Gradually shift to an intermittent reward schedule as your studying improves.

f. You can increase your motivation to study a hard or less preferred course by studying it before you study an easier or more preferred course.

g. It’s more motivating and productive to make a reward contingent or dependent upon an amount of work accomplished rather than on time spent study.

h. It may be more motivating for you to keep a chart or record of what you have accomplished. This becomes a form of feedback that will be reinforcing.

i. It may be more helpful when studying to compete with yourself rather than to compete with others.

References:

Groccia, J. E. (1992). The college success book: A whole-student approach to academic excellence.  Lakewood, CO: Glenbridge Publishing Ltd

Hettich, P. (1998). Learning skills for college and career (2nd Ed.)  Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole