Take a risk...

Following up to the article I posted previously, I have come away with a few key elements which teachers must provide students.

1. Sense of Control
2. Sense of Purpose
3. Sense of Competence

These three aspects are meant for students.  Providing students with a sense of control means they will have more motivation to participate.  Psychologists have found that students need choice and when we provide them with the choice of which classes to take, they are more inclined to be motivated to attend/perform at a higher level.  To counter the student perspective on sense of control, think about the teacher's perspective.  Teachers are now able to craft lessons that they are more interested in; in turn we are providing teachers with control of their curriculum.  This will also allow teachers to be more motivated to provide creative opportunities for students.

The next aspect is the sense of purpose.  Students need to have a meaningful activity in order to be motivated to continue their learning.  By initially providing control/choice, students are able to select the course they take which allows students to have a self chosen purpose in their learning.  Teachers, in turn, also have a purpose.  It is their responsibility to provide students with the lessons to ensure activities are meaningful and engaging. 

The last point is the sense of competence.  Students need to feel capable of completing a challenging task.  They feel as if they have accomplished something when they thought it might have been too hard.  Similarly for teachers, creating lessons that promote student success through differentiation can be a challenge.  This is something that all teachers should strive to complete.

So, I impart my challenge to you.  Take a risk!  Challenge yourself to create meaningful, engaging lessons that highlight the key aspects that will provide students with opportunities to shine.  Think outside the box and collaborate with others to develop cross-curricular lessons.  In the end, everyone will feel a sense of accomplishment.