Motivational and Affective Factors

How the learners push themselves to learn and how they value learning
are the concerns of the motivational factors. Meanwhile, the affective factors
relate to the attitude, feelings, and emotions that learners put into the learning
task.

1. What and how much are learned are influenced by the learner’s
motivation.
Motivation to learn is influenced by the individual’s emotional
states, beliefs, interests and goals, and habits of thinking.
Motivation plays a very important role in the learning. It pertains
to an individual’s inner drive to do something, accomplish
something, pursue a goal, learn, and master a skill, or just
discover without necessarily being forced or pushed by anyone.
The level of one’s motivation would also determine the extent of
his or her ability to accomplish desired tasks. The way teachers
motivate their learners is then crucial to make them actively
engaged in the learning process.

 Teacher’s and parent’s encouragements, praises, and

rewards can boost the learner’s confidence.
 They can also establish positive emotional states and
good habits of thinking in individuals.
 Learners will always feel that mistakes and errors are
normal parts of learning.
 Teachers should also use learning materials and
strategies that would eradicate learner’s anxiety, panic,
and even insecurities.
2. The learner’s creativity, higher-order thinking, and natural
curiosity all contribute to the motivation to learn.

There are two kinds of motivation – intrinsic and extrinsic

motivation.

Intrinsic motivation – is manifested when an individual engages

in an activity or task that is personally gratifying. It is personally
rewarding, and there is no expectation for any external or
tangible reward.

- Intrinsic motivation is stimulated by tasks of

optimal novelty and difficulty, relevant to
personal interests, and providing for personal
choice and control.
 Extrinsic motivation – is its direct opposite.

- A person engages in a task or an activity to earn

external rewards or to avoid punishments in some
situations.
As teachers and mentors, the most important way to motivate the students to
learn is to present the value of that knowledge or concept to their life.
Learning is not only about getting good grades or complying with
requirements, but it is more knowing why they need to learn such and to what
specific instances in their lives that they would be able to use them.

3. Acquisition of sophisticated knowledge and skills requires

extensive learner’s effort and guided practice.
The learner’s motivation to learn is also partnered by their
extended efforts. Teachers facilitate learning opportunities and
experiences that encourage learners to exert time and effort and
at the same time commitment and enthusiasm toward a task
they have to do and a concept they have to learn. It is through
the teacher’s encouragement that they will have to do tasks with
quality and not just for compliance’s sake.

 Teachers can praise works that have been done well. (let
us commend them)
 They can also acknowledge every little achievement of a
person.
 Teachers can use the student’s errors or mistakes as
opportunities for mentoring.
All these raise a person’s motivation to learn.

Positive emotions established in the classroom as well as with

others make learning interesting for everybody in general. The
learning environment can also foster positive emotions when
there is no competition between and among learners, and
numeric grades are just secondary considerations as pieces of
evidence of learning.