Motivation is the key to academic progress. Expert lesson plans, charismatic teachers and clear rubrics all help in ways, but progress advances best with deep learning, and deep learning advances best when students are internally motivated to learn. The more motivation comes from the inside, the deeper the learning, the longer material is remembered, and the better students—the better we all—feel about it.

The fact is that academic progress increases when teachers employ certain strategies to make motivation more internal. These same strategies help students develop an attitude of mastery learning that decades of research show to result in increased academic performance, greater character development, and a personal sense of happiness and well-being. In this workshop we’ll look both at the research and at the easily-implemented practical strategies that—when used—are transformational for both the teacher and the student.

Participants will:

• Understand the difference between mastery learning and performance learning, including why mastery learning is the only kind of learning we want students to seek.
• Learn four concepts involved in mastery learning and how teachers can easily implement them.
• Understand the research that shows the benefits of internally motivated mastery learning for academic progress, character development, and a personal sense of happiness and well-being.
• Leave the workshop with easily-implemented, specific strategies that research shows both foster academic excellence and social-emotional well-being.