Question

A potential pitfall of the 'Motivator' role is:

• A. Over-scaffolding that impedes student autonomy.
• B. Tokenism, where student input is requested but ignored.
• C. Over-reliance on extrinsic rewards, undermining intrinsic interest.
• D. Stepping beyond professional boundaries into therapy.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Over-reliance on extrinsic rewards, undermining intrinsic interest.

Understanding the 'Motivator' Role and its Pitfalls in an Educational Context

• The 'Motivator' role in education often involves encouraging students to engage with learning.
• A significant pitfall associated with this role is the over-reliance on extrinsic rewards.
• Extrinsic rewards include tangible benefits like grades, praise, prizes, or stickers.
• When learning is primarily driven by these external incentives, it can overshadow the inherent pleasure or value of the activity itself, which is known as intrinsic interest.
• Over-reliance on extrinsic rewards can lead to a situation where students only perform tasks when a reward is offered.
• This diminishes their internal drive to learn, explore, and understand concepts for their own sake.
• Over time, students may lose the motivation to learn if the extrinsic rewards are removed.
• This is particularly relevant in teaching methodologies that emphasize behavioral reinforcement.
• Educators should aim to foster both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation for sustained engagement and deeper learning.
• In competitive exams focusing on educational psychology and pedagogy, understanding this distinction is crucial for analyzing teaching strategies and their potential consequences.