Reward systems in a classroom setting.

This is another look at this video used in a recent post:

RSAnimate - Drive: the surprising truth about what motivates us.

It shows that physical rewards are an efficient motivator for "mechanical" tasks.  In classrooms, rather than economies which this video is really about, this can equate to seating in an orderly fashion, getting books out when asked and so on.  The logistical aspects of running an orderly classroom.

However when we step into the arena of even rudimentary cognitive tasks, doing the actual work, they can lead to poorer performance.  Other studies basically set out the reasons for this and they include things such as rushing to finish work which is where the reward is, cognitive process being devoted to the reward generates indecision or procrastination and many other "thought pattern" related causes.

In short, we are promoting an orderly classroom but are we promoting higher quality work?  Are we perhaps concentrating a little too heavily on the "behaviour management" end of the scale when factoring reward systems into our classrooms?  Have we adequately considered that it might very well result in lower quality work as students rush to get to the "reward" part?  This does not mean, by any stretch of the imagination, that these reward-based tools should be discarded.  An orderly classroom (or at the very least controlled chaos) is very important to the learning environment.  At the same time, we shouldn't ignore these negative factors either.  Can we positively combat them and how should we approach it?

The video shows us that there are rewards that are inherent to our psyche as a species.

"You probably want to do something interesting....  Let me get outta your way".

This has already been taken on board by education systems around the world under the guide of "Student Directed Learning" and these are the types of studies that are giving birth to these new educational ideals.  We've all come into contact with rubrics that allow a degree of student choice as well as other tools along the same vein.

Of course you would never give a student complete reign over their own education and there is a curriculum to follow but understanding why these things work, that they are based on inherent reward systems, helps us make better and wider use of these theories through a more solid understanding.

Still, it's well worth thinking and learning about these sorts of motivations in classrooms and the effective ways to apply them.  Generally speaking it leads to more engaging, productive and enthusiastic classrooms.

Regards,

Mel.