Summary of Theory
The motivation theory by Alfie Kohn mostly revolves around the manner in which it criticizes the diverse traditional education’s aspects, mostly through utilization of competition or outside forces, which mostly comprise of motivation. According to the theory, numerous societies that focus on outside motivation usually end up emerging as inefficient as time passes. In the theory, Kohn usually questions the hierarchical nature of mainstream education. Authoritative positions are normally scarce through unnatural means, while those kinds of systems normally claim that all individuals are competitive naturally. Alfie claims that enforcing concepts naturally usually result to learners seeking additional positive means of enforcement as opposed to actual learning. In the perspective of Kohn, an appropriate classroom environment should focus on cooperation and curiosity. Here, the curiosity of the students needs to serve as the one that determines the content delivered to them. As such, it is crucial to ensure that the set standards remain considerable minimal while this serves as an essential undertaking when it comes to standardized assessments. Furthermore, Alfie argues that stringent homework and curriculum normally influence the needs of the learners negatively. In addition, on matters related to managing the classroom environment, Kohn supports the idea that a large number of educators are heavily reliant on outside motivation as opposed to intrinsic forces. As such, he supports the idea of teachers ensuring to cooperate with the students to facilitate in nurturing curiosity while punishments and rewards are not essential to motivating the learners.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Theory
Strengths
The motivation theory by Alfie Kohn features several strengths. For instance, it argues on the need for eradicating competition since it is usually counterproductive. Rather he backs the need for offering motivation while it teaches on the need for caring about the learners. Individuals need to make sure that they care for each other within the society whereas intense rivalry does not work well.
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Weaknesses
The motivation theory by Kahn also features certain weaknesses. For instance, the theory usually refutes the conventional wisdom, which pertains to education. The theory adopts a typical practice, which fails to abide by the existing education’s conventional wisdom. Rather, the theory follows a typical practice, which individuals might consider helpful although it is destructive.
Implementation
To facilitate in implementing the motivation theory to it is crucial that educators provide their learners with the opportunity of assessing the topics that are of interest to them. According to the theory, teaching through testing or while following certain set standards does not assist students in learning. Rather, the learners require the opportunity of writing, thinking, and exploring without the need of worrying as to whether they are good at the things that they do. In the viewpoint of Kohn, education focuses mostly on achievement as opposed to the learning process. Rather, it is essential to avoid directing the learners towards success while immersing them in the learning process is the ideal thing to do. However, the theory fails to support the notion of stringent standards for ensuring that learners are exposed to similar things since students do not learn at similar speeds. Ensuring that learners take an active role in their individual learning process allows them to learn more effectively. In this sense, teachers should refrain from following alignment and standards since distinct students have differing interests. Therefore educators need to focus on making sure that the learners follow their unique interests.
In addition, implementing the motivation theory requires the utilization of positive reinforcement, especially by using repetitive phrases, such as “good job.” Positive reinforcement might work for a limited duration, although it differs while working with distinct children, such as when it comes to engaging them in discussions concerning the sensible things within a classroom setting. Regarding the idea of positive reinforcement, it plays a role when it comes to encouraging the learners although it leads them to focus on realizing positive reinforcement every time. Offering praise to students for a certain action does not mean that they would continue repeating similar actions. In this case, the theory requires that educators refrain from utilizing positive reinforcement but rather ensure to discuss with the learners concerning the actions that they undertake.
Adapting the Theory for Secondary School
An ideal means of adapting the motivation theory in a classroom environment, which would offer the students with a means of pursuing their interests while in secondary school would mostly revolve around research. It is possible to do research different content areas. The learners can research of anything that interest them in different cultures or science among other areas. In the same manner that educators develop units for their learners during elementary school, it is possible for the learners to establish their individual units while in high school. The educators can consider guiding their learners through the process of research while students develop increased in learning when they have the capacity of choosing their individual topics.
Furthermore, while in secondary school, teachers need to refrain from utilizing positive reinforcement with their learners. Rather, they should focus on making sure that they provide the learners with increased feedback, which it not as general as “amazing work.” The teachers should instead ensure to deploy efforts for communicating often with the learners while at the same time discussing the negative and positive behaviors that their learners portray. This would play a critical role in assisting the learners to reflect on their individual performance and behavior in a more meaningful manner as opposed to seeking the praise of the teacher.
