We all have different reasons to why we pursue the things we do, and that because something has motivated us to do so. In everything you do there is a driving force behind it. Motivation is either Intrinsic or Extrinsic, meaning we either do things because something within us drives us to do so or we do things because of the outcomes or an outside force.
Self-Determination is defined at the process by which a person controls their own life.
There are several things that motivate me in my life in pursuit of becoming an educator, my love of learning that was passed down from my parents. We are that family that when we go on Vacation we tend to see Historical sites or attend various Museums, this love of learning has extended into the some of television through various Canceled TV series like Relic Hunter, and Warehouse13. I love to help others, and I believe everyone deserves an equal chance when it comes to education. But, also and probably the biggest driving force in my life, is I want my students to know that they can overcome anything thrown at them. For those that know me in my personal life, know that I have struggled with my health, schooling, and just overall life in general. I want my students to look at me and say “If she can overcome the obstacles thrown at her, I can too”.
According to the research by Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, “To be motivated means to be moved to do something”. They describe that there are different kinds of motivation besides that of Intrinsic and Extrinsic, they look at it as the level of motivation and the orientation of the motivation. So how motivated is the student and what is the driving force behind what they are doing (Ryan, & Deci). The Self Determination Theory which Ryan and Deci were “The Founding Fathers” of, talked about the basic human need of Autonomy and Freedom. Students want to be their own person even in a classroom setting, and that extends farther than the outward appearance of the clothes they wear, but it also reaches to how/what they learn. If they are learning about something that interest them (Intrinsic), they will complete the tasks at hand out of curiosity, but if they are learning or reading something that they have no interest in that task rivals that of pulling teeth.
For a student to become more self-determined in a classroom, the classroom environment should fulfil three basic needs; student need to feel connected, the classroom itself should be effective (think about Effective Classroom Practices), and students should be responsive to learning new things (Ryan & Deci).
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions and New Directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 54-67. doi:10.1006/ceps.1999.1020
