Motivation in Education, by Lisa VanDamme

This is a newly available talk on cd available from www.aynrandbookstore.com. Lisa talks about some experiences at her Academy with respect to motivation. How to motivate and why the modern educational methods get it so wrong.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Ayn
• Rand
• Objectivism
• education
• Leonard
• Peikoff
• Brandon
• Cropper
• Aristotle
• academy
• Lisa
• VanDamme
• motivation

[MetaMorphy]

Also, I think as a Montessori person that she might rather harshly disagree with your idea. I, for one, think that children should be challenged with quality lectures and tough excercises---not washing pots and placing flowers.

[cropperb]

I don't follow. What idea did I advocate that would make you equate it with "washing pots and placing flowers"? I very firmly believe "that children should be challenged with quality lectures and tough excercises" so I don't really see what you're reffering to...?

[MetaMorphy]

While long range motivation is essential, why is short term motivation bad as long as it is not done to the exclusion of the other?

[cropperb]

As long as long-range motivation is given, who could complain about short-range motivation? One example would be playing games while learning, like Jeopardy or grammar baseball. That's fine, but the kid won't learn properly or consistently if that's the _only_ motivation.

[supermanx127]

Have you thought of talking to Miss VanDamme about your ideas for your school? She may offer alot of help. Try writing her a letter. Everyon loves recieving letters :)

[cropperb]

I have written her and will be calling her for a short phone interview with a few questions about the specifics of setting up the school, probably next spring. I would love to teach at her academy, but they accept only "specialists" in any given field, and I am well-read but not a professional. Maybe after I teach on my own for a few years... But I'm not sure I want to live in Orange County anyway - too much smog and crime!

[Sam26100]

This problem you are talking about is exactly what I've been strugling with. My deepest regret in my life is that I haven't applied myself in school I know I could have had the best grades if I had tried, but I didn't try because learning was always like a duty to be carried out under the threat of punishment. This mentality was promoted by my parents and teachers, and I gradualy began realizing that one must have a personal purpose in learning only after I graduated High School.

[richardvg03]

My parents are both teachers. I think they do a good job.

[MetaMorphy]

29.95 is a little expensive. Orange County does not have that much crime. I am originally from Fullerton, CA---which is in Orange County. Orange County has a crime rate that is below the national average and that is esp. low for an urban area.