Overview
This lecture discusses how classroom practices affect children's motivation and creativity, emphasizing the importance of intrinsic motivation and warning against common school constraints that suppress creativity.
Motivation and Creativity in the Classroom
- Kindergarteners typically begin school highly motivated and imaginative, but this often declines by second grade.
- Motivation and creativity are closely linked; intrinsic motivation (internal enjoyment or challenge) enhances creativity.
- Extrinsic motivation (rewards, evaluations) generally reduces creativity, especially on creative tasks.
Effects of Extrinsic Motivation
- External rewards or impending evaluations can lead children to avoid risks and reduce creative problem solving.
- Extrinsic motivators are effective for rote or routine tasks (e.g., memorization, chores), but not for creativity.
Six Killers of Motivation and Creativity
- Promise a reward for completing a task.
- Lead to expectations of evaluation.
- Restrict choice and autonomy.
- Impose strict time limits.
- Continuously monitor or surveil.
- Combine the above in competitive environments.
Research Findings
- Studies across different ages and cultures confirm extrinsic motivators consistently lower creativity.
- Experiments show children under constraints (reward, evaluation, competition) are less creative than those with freedom.
Historical and Systemic Context
- Early education visionaries advocated for child-centered, intrinsically motivated learning.
- Current educational systems often emphasize standardized testing, which encourages teaching to the test and suppresses creativity.
Recommendations for Educators
- Allow children time for immersive problem solving, teamwork, and learning through failure.
- Support children's intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and perseverance.
- Shift classroom environments to prioritize exploration over external incentives.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Intrinsic Motivation — motivation from internal satisfaction, enjoyment, or challenge.
- Extrinsic Motivation — motivation driven by external rewards or fear of evaluation.
- Creativity — producing novel and useful ideas or solutions.
- Constraint Conditions — situations involving rewards, evaluation, competition, or restricted autonomy.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Educators: Design classroom activities that foster intrinsic motivation and creativity.
- Reflect on current teaching practices and reduce reliance on extrinsic motivators for creative tasks.