Question

Using Extrinsic and Intrinsic Rewards to Motivate Student Achievement

Objectives

• To identify extrinsic and intrinsic rewards that motivate student achievement.
• To generate suggestions for how instructors can use extrinsic and intrinsic rewards to motivate student achievement.

Introduction

The purpose of this exercise is to explore the use of rewards in motivating student achievement. There are two types of rewards—extrinsic and intrinsic—that can be used to fuel student motivation. Extrinsic motivation drives people’s behavior when they do things in order to attain a specific outcome. Extrinsic motivation is the payoff a person receives from others for performing a particular task. For students, these rewards include things like grades, getting better jobs, verbal recognition from peers and professors, academic scholarships, and admittance to honorary societies and associations. In contrast, intrinsic motivation is driven by positive feelings associated with doing well on a task or job. Intrinsic rewards are self-granted; the payoff comes from pleasing yourself.

Instructions

1. Individually brainstorm a list of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards that are associated with academic achievement.
2. As a group create a master list of all unique ideas generated through brainstorming. As a group, identify the top five extrinsic and intrinsic rewards from the list. The group can use a voting procedure to arrive at consensus.
3. Generate specific recommendations for how any college instructor might build these top five extrinsic and intrinsic rewards into a classroom environment.

Questions for Discussion

1. What did you learn about the use of rewards from this exercise?
2. How can instructors improve student achievement through the application of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards?
3. Can instructors really motivate students?

Answer 1

List of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards that are associated with academic achievement.

Top five extrinsic rewards

1. Reward or a prize

2. Designating as class monitor or lead

3. Recognition by giving title such as achiever of the year

4. Giving chances to tour as part education exchange programs

5. Scholarships

Top five Intrinsic rewards

1. Inner satisfaction through achievement

2. Personality improvement such as growing confidence

3. Morale boost and more motivation

4. Improved knowledge and learning through curiosity satisfaction

5. Greater Ambition

The learning from the use of rewards from this exercise is rewards have an important role in increasing motivation and inspire students to do more hardwork and stay focused on their goals. It creates personal confidence as well as beliefs in others since intrinsic and extrinsic rewards create positive environment and optimism.

Instructors can improve student achievement through the application of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards by applying the rewards at specific stages. They can help in building greater potential among students to achieve by making the students realise of their talents and inner drive.

Instructors can really motivate students as being their observers and understanding their state of mind as well as performance. They can accordingly use intrinsic and extrinsic rewards by assessing the mindset of students and help them in achieving their goals by introducing the appropriate incentives or innate will of students depending on their personality type and preferences.