MOTIVATIONAL STRATEGIES IN TEACHING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

There is nothing more important to a professor than finding answers to the question “How do my students learn?” This is true because teaching cannot be separated from learning. Indeed, teaching is the “art and science” of helping students learn, and our success as professors depends on changing the minds and intellectual character of students. Ultimately, learners control motivation. Each individual decides at the beginning of the day to engage in activities based on interest, relevancy, difficulty, energy, choice and consequences. Helping students to understand motivation and to make good choices is the key to empowering them in the classroom. There are several strategies that can influence students’ attitudes and perceptions and their motivation for learning.