eSchool News

JUNE 18, 2025

What if the missing ingredient in student achievement isn’t better curriculum, tech, or teachers, but better motivation? What if the key to unlocking motivation isn’t something intrinsic to students, but something found in their relationships with peers, teachers, mentors, and communities? But that vision overlooks something deeper.

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Motivation Learning Students Achievement 154

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 457

Assignments Writing Feedback Motivation 457

Catlin Tucker

FEBRUARY 16, 2020

We discuss how the design of classrooms can shift the focus from consumption to creation, how the school schedule can be used flexibly to give students more agency in identifying what they need and when, and how grouping students by needs and skills instead of by age can provide them with a more personalized learning experience.

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Motivation Culture Testing Discussions 358

Edsurge

MAY 9, 2023

CoCo is still in its beta phase, being tested out by educators from 65 different countries. Competing [in a game] doesn’t work as motivation for every student. The idea is to keep learners motivated in a class. Competing [in a game] doesn’t work as motivation for every student. Quizizz is embodying this shift.

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Gamification Motivation Game-Based Learning Math 206

eSchool News

JANUARY 6, 2025

Reaching reluctant and disinterested readers can be challenging, frustrating, and discouraging for teachers, who fully grasp the importance of literacy skills. Theyre encouraged to embrace mistakes, stay motivated, and deepen their understanding of the material. This approach especially helps reluctant readers.

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Failure Motivation Gamification Cognitive Development 330

k12 Digest

MAY 19, 2025

In fact, one such study demonstrated that students who were taught in classroom environments which employed strategies aligned to research such as productive struggle, discourse, movement and problem solving scored significantly higher on post-tests recalling and applying previous learning than the control group.

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Science Education Motivation Lecturing 130

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., For example, before a math test, I create a Quizizz game with problems covering the key concepts.

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Gamification Multiple Choice Questions Motivation Social Studies 310

Catlin Tucker

FEBRUARY 26, 2023

Clear expectations positively impact the students’ feelings of competence or confidence in their ability to complete a task, which can motivate them to put in their best effort. Testing a solution involves investigating how well it performs under a range of likely conditions.

Fairness 545

Fairness Assignments Feedback Evaluation 545

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 10, 2021

When you have to compete with a warm sun, sandy beaches, and playful friends, motivating students in summer school can be a daunting challenge. Let your summer school students experience this motivator. Along the way, teach the curriculum, collect evidence of learning, and tick off learned skills. Use disruptive tools.

Motivation 154

Motivation Schools Syllabus Students 154

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.

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Middle School Middle School STEM Interdisciplinary 334

eSchool News

APRIL 8, 2025

Despite this demand, many students lack the foundational interest or skills needed to pursue these opportunities. 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.

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STEM Learning Science Critical Thinking 315

eSchool News

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

Social-emotional skill building tackles the core reasons students disengage from classroom learning. That is why schools that embrace social-emotional learning programs see reduced absenteeism, higher student engagement and motivation, a stronger feeling of community among students, improved academic performance, and fewer dropouts.

Motivation 289

Motivation High School High School Testing 289

eSchool News

JANUARY 22, 2025

With infinite information at their fingertips, how do we equip this new type of student with the skills to interpret, problem solve, and think critically about the information they encounter when we are not always the ones delivering it to them? Design thinking also has a positive impact on the overall motivation and engagement of students.

Failure 309

Failure Critical Thinking Essay Feedback 309

Catlin Tucker

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

It is a process where students evaluate their work, reflecting on what they’ve learned, how well they’ve understood complex concepts, how much progress they’ve made toward mastering key skills, and where they may need to invest time and energy to improve their concept knowledge and skill set.

Evaluation 428

Evaluation Assignments Failure Discussions 428

Catlin Tucker

AUGUST 1, 2022

In my last blog post , I said self-awareness is a foundational social-emotional learning skill. As students understand themselves on a deeper level, they’re more likely to be successful in developing their self-management skills. Be motivated to pursue challenging tasks. What is self-management? Self-management.

Learning 343

Learning Motivation Achievement Skills 343

eSchool News

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

In eighth grade math, the gap between the highest- and lowest-performing students was the widest in the tests history. Students who performed the worst on the NAEP test were more likely to be frequently absent from school, Carr noted. That is a crucial skill that students really need for entering middle school.

Math 290

Math Students Reading Testing 290

Catlin Tucker

JUNE 12, 2019

However, the ability to make key decisions about their learning is a powerful motivator for students. Even though they are focused on different topics, they are still developing research skills, designing a presentation, and presenting for the class.

Assignments 420

Assignments Students Blended Learning Motivation 420

eSchool News

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

More than 70 third graders who had not yet shown proficiency on the End-of-Grade (EOG) test or Read to Achieve test participated in the three-week camp. It’s important for young learners to have the time, resources and support needed to develop their reading skills,” said NCVA Principal Kelly Shanahan.

Reading 259

Reading Grades Testing Achievement 259

eSchool News

JULY 16, 2024

Test-optional and test-blind admissions in recent years could mean a radical expansion of access to selective colleges. The patchwork of admission test policies in college admissions underscores a larger challenge—and opportunity—for both K-12 and higher education.

Education 307

Education Testing Feedback English 307

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 19, 2023

Every teacher knows it’s essential, and every teacher tries to motivate students. But it’s just as true that all teachers have experienced those days when they don’t feel particularly motivated, when the content seems old and tired, and when students (sometimes the whole class) are clearly anything but motivated by what’s happening in class.

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Motivation Beliefs Students Assignments 116

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. These kinds of investigations align well with the Framework’ s emphasis on process skills and understanding the nature of scientific inquiry.

Science 319

Science Mobile Devices Teaching STEM 319

eSchool News

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

They discovered that much of their skill involved developing perceptual abilities that allowed them to look at a chess board and immediately see potential moves, rather than searching all possible moves. AI can adjust to every action students take to meet them where they are and help them progress at a very detailed, skill-by-skill level.

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Students Coaching Intelligence Ethics 338

eSchool News

DECEMBER 25, 2024

They discovered that much of their skill involved developing perceptual abilities that allowed them to look at a chess board and immediately see potential moves, rather than searching all possible moves. AI can adjust to every action students take to meet them where they are and help them progress at a very detailed, skill-by-skill level.

Students 314

Students Coaching Intelligence Ethics 314

eSchool News

OCTOBER 25, 2016

As a teacher, I love when my students ask questions, but the one that used to break my heart was, “Will this be on the test?”. 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.

Critical Thinking 280

Critical Thinking History Motivation Skills 280

eSchool News

MAY 9, 2019

State testing is done (or will be), the weather is getting nicer, and the school year is coming to an end. We cram in field trips and awards ceremonies after testing, and that can give the impression that “teaching is done.” Allowing students to have a role in teaching is motivating and will provide intrinsic drive.

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Schools Testing Learning Outcomes Motivation 280

eSchool News

OCTOBER 10, 2024

Recent national test scores found that our country’s eighth graders are still a full school year behind pre-COVID levels in their reading and math achievements. This is tough news to swallow, but I’m choosing to view this as motivation. Teachers also observe and track the minute data of student reading skills that often go overlooked.

Schools 260

Schools Reading Testing Coaching 260

eSchool News

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

Educators often talk about 21st-century skills and the benefits of incorporating communication, creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking into lessons. These are skills students rarely learn straight out of a textbook. If that sounds daunting, rest assured, it doesn’t always have to be.

STEM 280

STEM Textbooks Learning Students 280

Edsurge

FEBRUARY 24, 2021

Coding and computer science are typically associated with outcomes around problem-solving and analytical skills. With Google's Applied Digital Skills as his foundation, Hicks prioritizes culturally relevant teaching through the vehicle of computer science. All about Norfolk State University-Applied Digital Skills Lesson - P.L.

Culture 176

Culture Skills History Science 176

eSchool News

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

In fact, one state, Iowa, requires no reading licensure test at all. The data brief, False Assurances: Many states’ licensure tests don’t signal whether elementary teachers understand reading instruction , provides the most up-to-date analysis on the quality of elementary reading teacher licensure exams being used by each state.

Reading 303

Reading Teaching Exams Teachers 303

Faculty Focus

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

Each factor plays a role in shaping various academic achievements: Prior knowledge of the subject matter Motivation and engagement Learning goals Learning strategies Prioritization of the course Outside responsibilities College students take a course for various reasons, for example, to meet a major or minor requirement or for personal interest.

Motivation 126

Motivation Instructors Lecturing Feedback 126

eSchool News

MARCH 23, 2017

Further, what if this mindset change led to an increase in student achievement on tests? The technique involves testing students twice: once individually and once in groups. What if we could empower our teachers to turn student assessment into a process of learning instead of a focus on measurement? Achievement Gains x 3.

Achievement 265

Achievement Teachers Middle School Middle School 265

eSchool News

JULY 19, 2024

By thinking outside the box and implementing innovative strategies, school districts can create an appealing and sustainable career path for educators, ensuring that every classroom is led by a qualified and motivated teacher. By leveraging advanced technology, schools can tap into a broader pool of skilled teachers.

Teachers 297

Teachers Culture Special Education Interactive Teaching 297

eSchool News

JANUARY 26, 2023

During a session at FETC 2023 , Samuel explored how blockchain can be used in real world to solve problems like knowledge gaps, student motivation, attendance, teacher compensation. Blockchain technology holds the promise to change much of what’s plaguing education today, he asserted.

Motivation 281

Motivation Textbooks Knowledge Testing 281

eSchool News

DECEMBER 8, 2023

It can give suggestions for how to write a college application essay for those who lack writing skills, too. “This survey shows how out-of-touch politically motivated book banning and censorship groups are,” said John Chrastka, EveryLibrary Institute Executive Director. Far too many states are using these weak tests.

Essay 291

Essay Exams Testing Reading 291

eSchool News

OCTOBER 25, 2023

Higher test scores are often used to measure student achievement, but we know true meaning-making and application of skills are measured in different ways. We must equip students with valuable skills, such as how to write effective generative AI prompts, to prepare them for their future careers.

Hybrid Learning 322

Hybrid Learning Cognitive Development Intelligence Motivation 322

eSchool News

MAY 10, 2016

But until recently, noncognitive skills like perseverance and self-motivation sat at the periphery of an education debate centered on the measurement of skills like reading and math. Books on noncognitive skills pepper best-seller lists. That is beginning to change.

Failure 276

Failure Beliefs Math Intelligence 276

Faculty Focus

JANUARY 19, 2023

Every teacher knows it’s essential, and every teacher tries to motivate students. But it’s just as true that all teachers have experienced those days when they don’t feel particularly motivated, when the content seems old and tired, and when students (sometimes the whole class) are clearly anything but motivated by what’s happening in class.

Motivation 98

Motivation Beliefs Students Assignments 98