iServi News | 29 October 2021 | Term 4, Week 3
Student Code of Conduct: Feeling Motivated
This week, the focus of our exploration of the Student Code of Conduct is feeling MOTIVATED.
Numerous research studies have shown that intrinsically motivated students have higher achievement levels, lower levels of anxiety and higher perceptions of competence and engagement in learning than students who are not intrinsically motivated (Wigfield & Eccles, 2002; Wigfield & Waguer, 2005).
At Servite we promote and apply the theory and strategies of the Berry Street Education Model. One of the Domains of this model is Engagement. A positive psychology concept that interrelates with engagement is nurturing intrinsic motivation (Norrish, 2011).
A specific strategy that teachers use to nurture motivation is the ‘Motivational Interview’. This involves students setting SMART goals at the beginning of the year and/or term. These are goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. Once these goals are established students are asked, ‘What is it going to take to ensure success?’. Ideas such as persistence, resilience, dedication are often raised by our students. Next, students are challenged to decide what percentage of them as a person really wants to change by examining the benefits and disadvantages of change, and the benefits and disadvantages of staying the same. For example, a benefit change might be achieving better outcomes in maths, but a disadvantage might be having to give up electronic game time after school to achieve this. Through this process, students start to recognise how much they are willing to forego to achieve their goals. They can begin to work out ‘What percentage of me really wants to change?’ and ‘What percentage of me really wants to stay the same?’
We recognise that change is not easy and while we have strategies and tools to help us, many of us fail to achieve our goals in our first attempt. ‘Success isn’t a talent or hard work alone; success is getting up after you hit a speed bump. Some people never get up and some people recognise that it can be a learning point in the road and build a stronger intention to keep going.’ (BESEM, 2015). At Servite we celebrate mistakes for that very reason, mistakes are an opportunity to learn and build a stronger resolve to change and deeper motivation to achieve our goals.
Mrs Monica Maxwell
Acting Deputy Principal – Community