I recently read a fascinating book titled, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink. The book is based on years of scientific research which demonstrates the importance of intrinsic motivation (from within) versus extrinsic motivation (carrot and stick or from without).
According to the research, intrinsic motivation consists of autonomy, mastery and purpose. The research indicates that high performance, creativity and job satisfaction comes from the need to direct our own lives, to develop our abilities and talents and to live a life of purpose and one that we feel really matters.
Most schools and businesses use rewards and punishment (extrinsic) as their primary means of motivation. Pink points out that external motivation works some of the time for routine tasks that require one solution and which can be accomplished by repeatedly following the same set of instructions. Extrinsic motivation does not work as well for more complex and creative tasks and jobs that have many possible solutions. The problem is that most of the jobs being created in the 21st century are more complex and there are many pathways that can be taken to achieve results.
Reading Pink’s book raised the question in my mind, “How can we help students and ourselves to regain the love of learning and insatiable curiosity that we all had as children?” We had a natural love and excitement for learning as children and this motivation came more from within than from without. How can we regain this intrinsic motivation (if lost) and turn our work into play?
As an educator I have been experimenting with giving students more autonomy and opportunities to work on projects which they feel passionate about. For example, one of my students was willing to receive a failing grade on an assigned paper because he was not interested in the topic I chose. So I gave him the option of choosing another subject (as long as it was related to the course) and then he was to propose his choice of topics to me for approval. Quickly he returned to see me and presented an appropriate topic that he wanted to write about.
Pink’s book provides resources and links to schools and businesses that are finding ways to be a catalyst for intrinsically motivated students and employees. The book also provides suggestions for implementing a variety of ideas which are supported by the scientific research that Pink discussed.
If you are interested in how to get the best out of yourself and others, this book is probably one that you would enjoy reading.
Copyright 2010. Raymond Gerson
Best regards,
Raymond Gerson
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