Online StoreMotivation - Turning Your Boredom into Interest
The task of getting a student to invest in learning, while difficult, is doable. In many cases a teen cannot see a relationship between what he’s being taught and the life that he’s living. Connecting the seemingly abstract events in a student’s life to who they are and their interests is the key to bringing learning to life. Students need to learn to ask, “What’s in it for me?” It may sound selfish, but it’s not. “What’s in it for me?” or WIIFM (pronounced wiffum), is a concept that helps kids and teens see a benefit in something they view as negative, over against the difficulty and effort of the task at hand.
What is the advantage of staying awake during a boring math lecture? A student has to evaluate whether the WIIFM outweighs falling asleep in class. In this case, the WIIFM if he stays awake and listens, and even take notes, is good grades. Another WIIFM could be that the math teacher gives public recognition to those students who do well in the class. The student likes positive attention, and knows that if he does well he’ll get recognized. In addition to getting recognized, his parents have promised a new video game for a better grade in the class. In this way, asking, “What’s in it for me?” becomes a powerful motivation tool.
Finding WIIFM is the same as creating interest. Students need to be taught the skill of using WIIFM to help them see the reasons for things in their lives that seem disconnected to their everyday activities. Academic summer camps teach these very specific skills that show students how they can change their thinking. Helping students find a reason to be interested in their studies at school, their involvement with a sport, or their activities at home is the key to motivation. When students see the connection between what they’re learning and the life they’re living, it’s easier for them to see, “What’s in it for me?” If a student goes to ball practice even though he wants to stay home, the WIIFM is that he is more prepared for the game. When game time comes he can help be part of a team that scores points and wins. The WIIFM is winning.
Once WIIFM is identified, students begin to understand that the benefits of WIIFM grow on themselves. Take the example of winning the game. A lot more happens than just being a part of a winning team. A kid feels better about himself; he bonds with the group - the team. He is more popular at school and to keep that feeling going, he may work harder in his classes. Then he raises his grades and feels even better about himself. This all happens because he decided that the WIIFM of going to practice was being prepared to win.
Knowing how to create interest - understanding “What’s in it for me?” is the key to finding motivation in any area of life. It is taking responsibility for your life, and it is the difference between a passive learner and an active learner. Passive learners don’t see the learning potential in their situation, but active learners gain whatever they can from every situation. Passive learners also ignore opportunities for growth from a learning experience. In addition, they simply let things happen to them. Active learners use what they learn to their benefit and they make things happen.
When a student begins to identify the WIIFM in situations and becomes an active learner, a light goes off in his head. Motivation rises and he uses challenging or mundane situations to his advantage. He makes better choices that help him advance toward a goal he can see. Then he gains personal power. Personal power enables a student to go toward life - raising his motivation and allowing him to be fruitful in what he does.
Helping a child to raise his motivation isn’t easy. But there is a way. If children get help learning how to view life differently, they can find benefit in the things they do. Academic summer camps help students to see the “What’s in it for me?” to create interest, and to gain personal power. After kids have success, they can celebrate - in fact it’s important they do. In recognizing their achievement, kids and teens learn to celebrate to underscore their success. The celebration reminds them that WIIFM works, and that builds more motivation for the next task. Some adults may ask, “What’s in it for me?” faster than a kid would, but once a student learns the power of WIIFM, failure is left in the dust and motivation takes over their lives.
