Critical Thinking and Motivation

3 critical areas necessary to boost student motivation

eSchool News

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

The report, Students as Meaning Makers: Why Academic Solutions Aren’t Enough , underscores an increasingly critical need to ensure students find positivity and meaning in their learning. The lack of motivation has contributed to lower academic performance and increased dropout rates.

Motivation

Motivation Students Testing Participation

Look to the Science: Understanding how Mind, Brain and Education Science can Inform Educational Practices

k12 Digest

MAY 19, 2025

Practical Strategies for Classroom Application The research consistently tells us that the application of brain-based learning principles leads to increased academic achievement, better behavior, development of appropriate social-emotional skills, and increased motivation. Lets examine a few examples from the research. link] Rahmatin, L.

Science

Science Education Motivation Lecturing

The pros and cons of DEI in education

eSchool News

MAY 13, 2025

This enhances critical thinking and empathy. This leads to increased engagement and motivation. One of the main advantages of DEI in education is the promotion of a more inclusive and representative curriculum. Students gain a broader understanding of the world by integrating diverse perspectives into course materials.

Education

Education Critical Thinking Motivation Culture

Computational Thinking Is Critical Thinking. And It Works in Any Subject.

Edsurge

MAY 21, 2019

But at its core, computational thinking is simply a way to process information using higher-order or critical thinking, says Julie Oltman, who also teaches at Lehigh and is collaborating with Hammond on a related social studies curriculum. Contemporary U.S. map with overlay showing state and county borders in 1790.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Social Studies Art English

Look to the Science: Understanding how Mind, Brain and Education Science can Inform Educational Practices

k12 Digest

MAY 19, 2025

Practical Strategies for Classroom Application The research consistently tells us that the application of brain-based learning principles leads to increased academic achievement, better behavior, development of appropriate social-emotional skills, and increased motivation. Lets examine a few examples from the research. link] Rahmatin, L.

Science

Science Education Motivation Lecturing

What Can College Instructors Offer Their Students in the Age of AI?

Faculty Focus

MAY 11, 2025

I admit that I did not have the most thoughtful or eloquent answer as I discussed trying to keep up with advances, to recognize the utility of AI, but also to continue to foster critical thinking skills in my students. What college instructors are needed for, he said, is to motivate our students to learn. Saucier, Ph.D.

Instructors

Instructors Motivation Critical Thinking Students

Why educational robotics is a critical STEM learning tool

eSchool News

FEBRUARY 24, 2023

When students become interested in STEM at a young age, their critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills have a chance to thrive. This motivates students to tackle more difficult challenges.

STEM

STEM Learning Tools Critical Thinking Failure

Shift to Leveraging Formative Assessment for Metacognition

Catlin Tucker

MAY 20, 2023

It provides evidence of progress over time, which can be motivating for students and informative for teachers and parents. This reflective process is key to promoting self-awareness and critical thinking. It can be used to promote self-reflection and self-assessment.

Metacognitive Skills

Metacognitive Skills Universal Design Blended Learning Evaluation

5 ways to teach and assess learning in the age of AI

eSchool News

JANUARY 17, 2024

Some experts believe this new technology can have a positive impact on teaching and learning, while others fret it may weaken the teaching of critical thinking and increase bias by spreading misinformation about different groups and cultures. Motivate students to act by incorporating action planning into assignments.

Teaching

Teaching Critical Thinking Assignments Learning

How much AI is too much?

eSchool News

OCTOBER 24, 2024

Those are the ability to personalize teaching, foster critical thinking, and inspire a passion for learning. Fostering critical thinking and problem-solving depends on using intentional tutoring strategies and practices. Effective tutoring motivates, models, and inspires a genuine love of learning.

Learning Styles

Learning Styles Critical Thinking Intelligence Motivation

Top tips for great cross-curricular coding

eSchool News

JANUARY 21, 2021

When working in tandem with core curriculum standards, computational strategies inherent in coding build meaningful, essential critical-thinking and problem-solving skills in students. A common misconception about coding is that teachers need a degree or certificate in computer science to incorporate coding into their curriculum.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Physical Education English Motivation

5 ways to use technology for classroom creativity

eSchool News

JULY 16, 2024

Creative projects help students connect new information to prior knowledge through critical thinking and problem solving. Assignments that engage students in creative practices motivate hard-to reach students and provide an opportunity for all students to be successful. Working closely with peers allows them to think creatively.

Technology

Technology Critical Thinking Assignments Motivation

Why Sending Students Home with Writing Assignments Might Not Be The Best Idea

Catlin Tucker

DECEMBER 12, 2023

1 Hard to Motivate After a Long Day at School After spending six to seven hours in a structured, often high-pressure academic environment, students face the additional burden of homework. As a result, writing assignments often fail to meet the psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness required for motivation.

Assignments

Assignments Writing Feedback Motivation

Engaging the reluctant reader: Benefits of gamified learning in literacy education

eSchool News

JANUARY 6, 2025

In a TEDx talk titled The Super Mario Effect–Tricking Your Brain into Learning More , Mark Rober highlighted how video games like Super Mario can motivate people to achieve their goals by viewing failures as learning opportunities. Theyre encouraged to embrace mistakes, stay motivated, and deepen their understanding of the material.

Failure

Failure Motivation Gamification Cognitive Development

Shifting from Time-consuming Teacher-led Workflows to Sustainable Student-led Workflows

Catlin Tucker

JANUARY 10, 2022

These traditional workflows do not position the students to be active agents or help them to develop into expert learners, who are resourceful, strategic, motivated, and self-aware. Too many students spend their days in classrooms passively observing, instead of actively engaging.

Blended Learning

Blended Learning Metacognitive Skills Teachers Feedback

The Station Rotation Model

Catlin Tucker

OCTOBER 29, 2021

When I work with teachers, I encourage them to design their online station to prioritize at least one of the 4Cs of 21st-century learning: (1) critical thinking, (2) communication, (3) collaboration, and (4) creativity. Agency and autonomy can yield higher levels of motivation over time.

Blended Learning

Blended Learning Critical Thinking Communication Participation

How Building Bonds in the Classroom Can Motivate Better Teaching

Edsurge

JANUARY 25, 2023

Cognitive engagement: Encouraged students to think deeply about the content. Problem-solving and critical thinning: Encouraged problem-solving and critical thinking. Students rated each statement "not true," "sort of true," "true" or "very true" about their teachers.

Motivation

Motivation Teaching Cognitive Development Critical Thinking

New Slate of Inspiring and Engaging Standards-Aligned Content Added to Discovery Education Experience for Back-to-School 2025

eSchool News

APRIL 23, 2025

Discovery Education understands that curiosity is central to the learning experience, as it drives student engagement, motivation, and persistence, said Lance Rougeux, Discovery Educations Senior Vice President of Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Engagement.

Laboratory

Laboratory Social Studies Education Middle School

Why every class should be cross-curricular

eSchool News

OCTOBER 25, 2016

All that I design and teach is built upon a cross-curricular base to infuse the learning experience with critical thinking—and all the motivation and personal engagement that it demands and affords. Cross-curricular and critical thinking are rather different educational concepts.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking History Motivation Math

Critical Thinking Development in Middle School Education

Ask a Tech Teacher

DECEMBER 26, 2023

Critical Thinking Development in Middle School Education Fostеring critical thinking skills in middlе school еducation is paramount to equipping studеnts with thе intеllеctual tools necessary for succеss. Sеvеral kеy componеnts constitutе critical thinking.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Middle School Middle School Education

9 ways to honor diversity and cultivate safe learning spaces

eSchool News

JULY 17, 2024

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Building a foundation Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs provides a foundational framework for understanding human motivation and development. By integrating culturally responsive practices, educators can foster critical thinking and creativity while respecting and celebrating diversity.

Learning Spaces

Learning Spaces Culture Motivation Learning

Design thinking in the 21st century is an imperative

eSchool News

JANUARY 22, 2025

This process pushes students to engage with skills like critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, empathy, and problem-solving. Design thinking also has a positive impact on the overall motivation and engagement of students. How do I use design thinking?

Failure

Failure Critical Thinking Essay Feedback

The Power of Claim-Evidence-Question

Catlin Tucker

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Thinking routines offer more than just a structured pathway for students to delve into their thinking and explore the content deeply; they also serve as a window into their cognitive processes, offering invaluable formative assessment data.

Questions

Questions Metacognitive Skills Ethics Math

Teacher Engagement Part I: Understanging Cognitive Engagement in Blended Learning Environments

Catlin Tucker

DECEMBER 22, 2021

What aspects of a teacher’s work lead them to engage in problem-solving, critical thinking, and reflection? The issue of grading and motivating students to see value in work that is not graded is complex and multifaceted. What do teachers find mentally stimulating about their work?

Blended Learning

Blended Learning Teachers Learning Grades

5 ways to integrate gamification into your classroom

eSchool News

JANUARY 10, 2025

“Several empirical studies have confirmed that students in gamified learning environments achieve higher levels of motivation and cognitive engagement compared to those in traditional classroom settings” (Dehghanzadeh et al., “Games are among childrens favorite activities, especially for primary school students.

Gamification

Gamification Multiple Choice Questions Motivation Social Studies

5 approaches that engage middle school students in STEM learning

eSchool News

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Plus, when they make mistakes, they’re motivated to try new approaches to test theories. This process reinforces scientific inquiry and builds critical thinking skills as students see, touch, and analyze real results from their experiments.

Middle School

Middle School Middle School STEM Interdisciplinary

How hands-on learning deepens STEM engagement

eSchool News

APRIL 8, 2025

Research shows that integrating probeware in STEM instruction boosts student motivation, particularly in subjects that are often perceived as difficult or abstract. Builds critical thinking and teamwork skills. Hands-on STEM learning also builds essential skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and data analysis.

STEM

STEM Learning Science Critical Thinking

3 real-world competitions that support STEM learning

eSchool News

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

Real-world challenges can help, though, because they motivate students and inspire problem solving, collaboration, and critical thinking. But topics such as math and engineering also can be challenging, leading many students to stop engaging in STEM learning.

STEM

STEM Critical Thinking Learning Motivation

5 strategies for turning boredom into brilliance

eSchool News

JANUARY 9, 2024

In fact, there are a number of simple methods teachers can use to spark student engagement while fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. This approach encourages critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, as students are often working in groups and learning from each other.

Middle School

Middle School Middle School Critical Thinking Lecturing

Is the Traditional Classroom Becoming Obsolete?

Ask a Tech Teacher

APRIL 28, 2025

Studies show that students in remote settings often feel isolated, which can lead to decreased motivation and engagement. In this new paradigm, collaboration and critical thinking are essential. The use of digital tools fosters collaboration and interaction, which can enhance critical thinking skills.

Hybrid Learning

Hybrid Learning Learning Styles Study Critical Thinking

Early STEM career awareness drives future success for students–and the economy

eSchool News

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

Career-connected learning helps students understand how academics connect to real-world careers which can improve academic motivation. It supports critical skills development, such as fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and adaptability.

STEM

STEM Grades Students Critical Thinking

Turning classroom boredom into student brilliance

eSchool News

DECEMBER 27, 2024

In fact, there are a number of simple methods teachers can use to spark student engagement while fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. This approach encourages critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, as students are often working in groups and learning from each other.

Students

Students Critical Thinking Lecturing Culture

7 ways Minecraft can make learning exciting again

eSchool News

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

Students also develop creativity (86 percent), critical thinking (93 percent), and collaboration (91 percent). Half of teachers say they think it also helps students build empathy. Gaming, including Minecraft , can be a powerful motivator to students, leading them to greater engagement and achievement.

Learning

Learning STEM Critical Thinking History

Shift to Self-assessment

Catlin Tucker

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

For those of us who want to encourage students to adopt a growth mindset, believing they can always improve and develop with practice and hard work, self-assessment is a critical piece of that puzzle. It promotes ownership of learning, motivating students to be more engaged, active participants in their education.

Evaluation

Evaluation Assignments Failure Discussions

Unleashing Metacognition: The Power of See, Think, Wonder

Catlin Tucker

AUGUST 5, 2023

Next, students progress to the stage of “thinking.” This critical thinking process encourages them to draw inferences, identify patterns, and make informed interpretations. Informational Texts: Use this with informational texts enhanced that may include graphics and charts.

Metacognitive Skills

Metacognitive Skills Ethics Critical Thinking Art

Leveraging collaborative e-learning to support UDL

eSchool News

AUGUST 29, 2024

Engagement : This involves identifying what motivates and excites students about learning. The same study also concluded that it “promotes motivation for reading and contributes to higher frequency of positive emotions and lower frequency of negative emotions.”

Learning

Learning Universal Design Syllabus Quizzes

Student success is impacted by issues outside of school, survey finds

eSchool News

MAY 1, 2024

On AI in the classroom, educators said they are most concerned that it will negatively impact students’ social skills, critical thinking, academic integrity, creativity, and memory retention.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity Plagiarism Critical Thinking Students

5 ways teaching science with probeware promotes 3D learning

eSchool News

MAY 30, 2024

The impact of probeware on student motivation and interest, particularly in science subjects often perceived as “ difficult, boring, and abstract ,” is significant. It provides students with rich opportunities for computational thinking in constructing explanations of observed phenomena.

Science

Science Mobile Devices Teaching STEM

Texting is negatively impacting students’ writing

eSchool News

JUNE 30, 2023

The student understands the underlying motives driving the character’s behavior here. To engage in the critical thinking process that underpins the ability to write? But there are some problems with this response. Notice the missing initial capitalization, the lack of closing punctuation, and the use of a sentence fragment.

Writing

Writing Students Communication Critical Thinking

What makes an engaging learning experience?

eSchool News

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

Research has demonstrated that an engaging learning experience increases students’ attention and focus and motivates them to practice higher-level critical thinking skills. Related content: 5 online discussion tools to fuel student engagement.

Learning

Learning Critical Thinking Motivation Attention

With AI coaching, a math platform helps students tackle tough concepts

eSchool News

APRIL 2, 2025

Many students suffer from math anxiety, which can lead to a lack of confidence and motivation. The math platform’s AI coaching helps motivate students to persevere through tough-to-learn topics, particularly when they’re completing work at home.

Coaching

Coaching Math Students Assignments

Friday 5: College and career readiness

eSchool News

APRIL 12, 2024

A college and career readiness skills list could be infinite–students need critical thinking, the ability to collaborate, empathy, motivation, etc. But students also need passion, particularly in the pandemic’s wake, as many students struggle with motivation and direction.

Motivation

Motivation High School High School Knowledge

Students will crush goals with the multi-grade level student planner, The Navigator!

eSchool News

APRIL 20, 2021

The Navigator is a full-color planner packed with STEAM powered resource pages to propel critical thinking of 5th – 12th grade students. Bonus features include sections for weekly goals, notes, hall passes, and reading logs as well as motivational quotes and study tips.

Grades

Grades Critical Thinking Students Motivation

Q&A: The importance of STEM support for teachers

eSchool News

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

In January, Discovery Education debuted STEM Connect , a web-based supplemental K-8 resource, developed with the input of educators and curriculum experts, which helps educators create engaging STEM lessons that strengthen students’ critical-thinking skills. Next page: Four important questions about STEM Connect).

STEM

STEM Interdisciplinary Critical Thinking Teachers

3 critical areas necessary to boost student motivation

Look to the Science: Understanding how Mind, Brain and Education Science can Inform Educational Practices

Trending Sources

The pros and cons of DEI in education

Computational Thinking Is Critical Thinking. And It Works in Any Subject.

Look to the Science: Understanding how Mind, Brain and Education Science can Inform Educational Practices

What Can College Instructors Offer Their Students in the Age of AI?

Why educational robotics is a critical STEM learning tool

Shift to Leveraging Formative Assessment for Metacognition

5 ways to teach and assess learning in the age of AI

How much AI is too much?

Top tips for great cross-curricular coding

5 ways to use technology for classroom creativity

Why Sending Students Home with Writing Assignments Might Not Be The Best Idea

Engaging the reluctant reader: Benefits of gamified learning in literacy education

Shifting from Time-consuming Teacher-led Workflows to Sustainable Student-led Workflows

The Station Rotation Model

How Building Bonds in the Classroom Can Motivate Better Teaching

New Slate of Inspiring and Engaging Standards-Aligned Content Added to Discovery Education Experience for Back-to-School 2025

Why every class should be cross-curricular

Critical Thinking Development in Middle School Education

9 ways to honor diversity and cultivate safe learning spaces

Design thinking in the 21st century is an imperative

The Power of Claim-Evidence-Question

Teacher Engagement Part I: Understanging Cognitive Engagement in Blended Learning Environments

5 ways to integrate gamification into your classroom

5 approaches that engage middle school students in STEM learning

How hands-on learning deepens STEM engagement

3 real-world competitions that support STEM learning

5 strategies for turning boredom into brilliance

Is the Traditional Classroom Becoming Obsolete?

Early STEM career awareness drives future success for students–and the economy

Turning classroom boredom into student brilliance

7 ways Minecraft can make learning exciting again

Shift to Self-assessment

Unleashing Metacognition: The Power of See, Think, Wonder

Leveraging collaborative e-learning to support UDL

Student success is impacted by issues outside of school, survey finds

5 ways teaching science with probeware promotes 3D learning

Texting is negatively impacting students’ writing

What makes an engaging learning experience?

With AI coaching, a math platform helps students tackle tough concepts

Friday 5: College and career readiness

Students will crush goals with the multi-grade level student planner, The Navigator!

Q&A: The importance of STEM support for teachers

Stay Connected