Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates — All 10,000+ Courses at 40% Off

One annual plan covers every course and certificate on Coursera. 40% off for a limited time.

The purpose of this course is to equip parents and educators with the knowledge of motivational theories and their application in real-life contexts. Following the storyline of two children, Bob and Sarah, course participants are presented with a variety of problem scenarios. These depict common motivational issues that the participants can resolve using the motivational principles described in the course. Through the various sessions, parents and educators will progressively build a repertoire of strategies that enable them to better understand the Gen Z learners and to enhance their motivation to learn. Course participants will also have the opportunity to check their own understanding through quizzes and to interact with one another through discussion forums. This course was created with the National Institute of Education at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. About National Institute of Education (NIE) As an autonomous institute of the Nanyang Technological University, the National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore, is Singapore’s national teacher education institute and plays a key role in the preparation of teachers and in the provision of teacher professional and school leadership development programmes. Its university-based teacher education programmes leverage the strong partnerships with the Ministry of Education and Singapore schools to develop teachers who are grounded in theory and strong in practice. As an institute within a world-class research university, NIE also offers rigorous graduate education in the form of masters and doctoral programmes for local and international students.

Syllabus

Understanding what motivates behavior: Do punishments and rewards work?

By the end of this session, you will be able to determine the source(s) of a child’s motivation, to use appropriate external motivators judiciously, and to identify and assist in satisfying the needs of your student(s) or children. Through this module, you will get the answer to the question: "Why are some children more motivated to learn than others?"

Looking into the Needs of Learners: Needs-Based Theories of Motivation

In this module, you’ll focus on understanding the basic needs of learners and how these needs influence motivation to learn. You’ll examine how motivation is enhanced when these basic needs are fulfilled and why this connection is important for engagement. You’ll also explore strategies that can be used to support the satisfaction of these needs, helping to strengthen learners’ motivation. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to identify key learner needs, explain their role in motivation, and apply strategies to support more effective learning.

Mindsets and Causal Attributions for Success and Failure

Understand how a learner's beliefs about their own abilities directly impact their educational success. You will explore the critical differences between a fixed and a growth mindset and learn actionable ways to cultivate a growth mindset in children. Additionally, you will examine how learners attribute their successes and failures, and how to guide these attributions to boost long-term resilience and motivation.

The Self-Regulated Learner

Empower students to take control of their own educational journey. This module breaks down the core dimensions of Self-Regulated Learning (SRL), including motivation, emotion, cognition, metacognition, and strategic action. You will walk away with effective strategies to support the development of independent learners who can actively manage their academic focus, emotional responses, and personal growth.