Influences on Learning and Achievement
Leo Rhody
Leo Rhody
This type of interest takes the form of a personal disposition and is developed through knowledge and personal value in a specific area.
Ex. Calvin loves dinosaurs, superheros, and adventure.
This is a temporary state of interest triggered by the environment
This can be caused by engaging in tasks, material, or features that include relevance that relates to individual interest, human-centered themes, or simply an engaging presentation.
Situational Interest can be maintained through the continued utilization of a student's individual interest.
Ex. Calvin loves dinosaurs. To spark situational interest, represent numbers in math like dinosaurs.
As educators, our goal is to inspire topic interest. Invoking individual interest in our lessons will create situational interest, which will foster topic interest. Therefore, giving us a formula to spur students on in learning through their interests.
Formula:
Topic Interest 🟰 Individual Interest ➕ Situational Interest
In the beginning, there was topic interest... Then...
Affective Response: Our ability to inspire interest will give life to positive emotions surrounding the material.
Persistence: These positive emotions will inspire students to stay on task and put more effort into their learning.
Achievement: The persistence will lead to better comprehension and recall of learned information.
Students with low prior interest can become engaged in learning classroom content.
Make an effort to know your students and their individual interests.
Ex. At the beginning of the semester, have students write down several interests they have and incorporate them into lessons.