Not enough to engage

Posted by: Dr Ashley Tan on: November 27, 2021

• In: Uncategorized
• Leave a Comment

This tweet triggered a thought, i.e., the importance of intrinsic motivation and empowerment.

The original ethos of the internet was "information wants to be free" – it got us Linux and Wikipedia and much of the architecture of the web. Those building web3 should read some @klakhani to learn the lessons of F/OSS: intrinsic motivations matter a lot! https://t.co/mkF2Ui7nLR pic.twitter.com/1NLYZNPJfH

— Ethan Mollick (@emollick) November 16, 2021

The tweet summarised the research on what motivated workers to contribute to free or open source software. It concluded that intrinsic motivation was the “strongest and most pervasive” driver.

We might apply this finding in teaching and learning. To bring intrinsic motivation to the surface, we cannot just engage learners, we must empower them.

It might even be harmful to rely on engagement. This puts all the effort in the teacher’s court and lets the student say “engage me otherwise I do not pay attention and learn”.

If we are to nurture lifelong learners, we need to promote long-term skills and attitudes, e.g., reflection methods, independent thought, lateral reading, informed skepticism. These change the game from one of teaching to that of learning.

Teaching and learning might look the same to a layperson, but an educator should know the differences. It is learning that matters and effective teaching is one way to ensure that happens. The other ways that do not get as much air time are intrinsic motivation and empowerment.

Tags: empower, engage