The Motivation Matrix
2020 brought massive changes to the way we all do business. For us here in SECPSD, the biggest changes have happened in the way we deliver education. Our in-person learning requires modifications to meet evolving COVID-19 protocols. Some schools have moved to hybrid or online learning, both short and long term. Contingency plans for fully virtual education delivery are constantly being reviewed, even as we do everything we can to stay safe in school and motivate our students to learn.
When you consider these changes in learning delivery combined with the extra stresses of year (like missing friends and activities, economic concerns, and general COVID fatigue) it's no surprise that students might need a little extra help in the motivation department. Motivation comes from the feel-good brain chemical Dopamine. When you feel a sense of accomplishment or enjoyment in the work you're doing, your brain associates the good feeling with the activity itself. It releases dopamine and voila! You are motivated to keep going, to practice or to try something more difficult. It's not unusual for emotions like frustration, anxiety, or fear to get in the way of dopamine release and block our motivation. Most of the time, we can find ways to address those feelings and re-motivate. But occasionally, especially in times of great uncertainty and change those emotions can persist which makes it harder for our brain to recognize the potential reward.
The good news is that staff in SECPSD understand the relationships between motivation and stress, and they have built their online learning plans to maximize student engagement. However, they can't do it alone. Fortunately, there are simple things families can do to help boost their kids' motivation too, starting with attendance. Because of COVID-19 the flu(cold) we might have pushed through in 2019, now means a day or two at home. For students in hybrid learning, the on/off schedule can leave their motivation feeling on/off too. Research tells us that just the act of showing up at school (even when showing up means turning on your computer) makes a difference. Students with better school attendance, no matter their age, have higher achievement scores compared to their peers who attend less. By simply helping your kid show up on TEAMS or encouraging them to complete their work on their "home" day, you give them greater shot at success. The dopamine release that success triggers builds their brain to motivate itself as they grow.
Check out our Motivation Matrix below for more motivation ideas by age group and leave us a comment with your family's motivation tips and tricks!
Remember that unmanaged stress affects learning, so if you are concerned that your student's lack of motivation is related to unmanaged stress you can find help in your community by calling 211, visiting sk.211.ca or talking to your child's teacher about a counselling referral.