Effect of Motivational Strategies on Science Students’ Cognitive Engagement
Author(s) : Sidra Aslam , Muhammad Anwer & Muhammad Subhan Yousaf
Abstract:
One of the major problems faced by teacher is that students are not motivated to learn and fail to do class participation. To maintain motivation and tying students’ Cognitive Engagement, individual motivation can be influenced with the help of different motivational strategies. This experimental study (pre-test posttest control group design) was conducted in a public school of Punjab province at elementary level. During experimental study five different motivational strategies (worksheets, puzzles and hands-on activities, encouragement, rewards & punishment) were used to cover the content from the 7th class general science book for a period of 2 months. After the intervention, results of t-test revealed that the strategies used in experimental group engaged students’cognitively and are capable of doing their work with enthusiasm, commitment and keen interest and trying to command mastery over their learning to achieve the highest result; whereas “disengaged students” do their work but without commitment and interest. It was recommended that different types of motivational strategies be introduced in the curriculum of PTTB at primary and elementary level to completely engage the students.
Key words: Motivational strategies, Student Cognitive Engagement, Science