Motivation Schmotivation

I was able to observe many cases of motivation this week at Meigs High School. In physical education the students are extrinsically and intrinsically motivated. The teacher plays a key role in their motivation. It seems as though motivation is a big part of physical education.
Throughout the day the students are both extrinsically and intrinsically motivated. In my opinion, high school students are not easily motivated in physical education. The students are extrinsically motivated because as they seek approval from their teacher. They know that Mr. Dunn is watching, which keeps them motivated to work hard. According to Ormrod, students are extrinsically motivated by factors that are external to themselves. For example, on Tuesday and Thursdays half of the class spends their class period working out on exercise equipment. The student who was on the treadmill today did not want to do anything. It took her a long period of time to start her workout, but once she did, she knew she had to keep going because Mr. Dunn was watching. The student did not want to get caught not doing her exercises. Not only were the students motivated by the need to please their teacher, but they are also motivated to please each other. The students are also extrinsically motivated in which activity they participate in. One group of friends played basketball, while another group of friends hung out on the exercise equipment. It did not matter which activity each individual person want to do, the students were motivated in their choice so they would be accepted by their peers. In this particular high school gym class, there are many students who seem that they cannot be motivated, no matter the circumstance. However there are a few students are intrinsically motivated just because they want to learn or achieve. Ormrod states that students are intrinsically motivated by factors within themselves because it gives them pleasure or help them develop. In the second period class, there are a few students who love physical education and sport and are intrinsically motivated because they want to improve on their skills. Three boys and a girl were playing two on two basketball. This game was testing the student’ skills they learned in class in a game-like situation. In class, they are given the option to just shoot around or do whatever they want. Due to the fact these students are intrinsically motivated, there were more interested in improving their basketball skills rather than just hanging out with their friends. Throughout the day I observed students extrinsically and intrinsically motivating themselves.
I believe an important aspect of physical education is motivation by the teacher. Mr. Dunn has his ways of using both types of motivation in order to get his classes to participate and learn. At the beginning of the class period, there were about four students who claimed they were not going to change for class. Mr. Dunn extrinsically motivated these students by telling them that if they did not change they would eventually fail, and just have to retake the class over again. Ormrod discusses this topic when he shares that extrinsically motivated students are often prodded at. Mr. Dunn experiences exactly this on a regular basis. Day after day he must prod his students, threatening to fail them in order to convince them to participate in the planned activities. Intrinsic motivation is also used because it is a part of Mr. Dunn’s job description. In physical education class the students are to be learning about health and wellness. He intrinsically motivates the students to continue their exercise because it will make them healthier individuals and increase their longevity. When Mr. Dunn is harping on his students about not dressing for class, he encourages them that they should want to dress. Not only so they do not fail, but because they will become more educated individuals if they participate. I believe Mr. Dunn takes this approach because he knows that not every student likes physical education class. On the other hand, he has a passion for educating the students at Meigs High School, and wants to share his knowledge with them. Mr. Dunn Is not the most aggressive motivator, but he does what he feels is best for get his students motivated for class.
I am not thrilled with what I observed this week. As I experience many different classes and students in my methods courses, I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Dunn might be a little too laid back. I get the feeling that he allows his student to get away with too much off task behavior. Today, the students were given a free period to do whatever they liked, as long as they kept working on something. Some of the students were across the gym, on the stage, playing ping pong. I noticed that one of the students had pulled a chair up to her table and was sitting down while attempting to play ping pong. I did not see how that student is going to get her daily, thirty, minutes of vigorous activity suggested by the surgeon general. She cannot accomplish this vigorous activity while she is sitting down. It took a long period of time for Mr. Dunn to go and make her stand up. Even when she did get up, he neglected to explain to her why she should not sit down. As I stated before, I know that it is hard to motive students who do not want to be motivated, but I hope that when I have own class I will be able to get my entire class intrinsically motivated to participate.
Obviously, motivation is prevalent in physical education. The students and teacher both have their ways of motivation, wither it be extrinsically, intrinsically, or both. I have learned a good deal about motivation and how important it is to the success of a physical education.