What is the Motivated School?
The Motivated School was created by Alan McLean, Area Principal Psychologist (Glasgow), and gives a theoretical framework to sharpen thinking on learner motivation by focusing on the interaction between the learning environment and learner characteristics.
It challenges schools to think differently about ‘managing’ pupil disaffection and aims to optimise the learning environment, whilst progressing pupils towards greater autonomy and self-motivation.
The approach reflects a realistic view of disaffected young people’s starting points, suggesting step-by-step pathways for individual growth.
Why use the Motivated School approach?
The Motivated School recognises that motivation has to come from the inside. It encourages teachers to reflect on intuitive ideas and deepen their understanding of motivation, asking questions such as:
- How do motivators motivate?
- How do motivators understand motivation?
- How does the motivator’s understanding of motivation affect his or her ability to motivate?
- What happens without motivation?
Remodelling pupil behaviour and motivation can prevent the 'chalk-face' frustrations and difficulties of supporting disaffected pupils and can find new directions in practice.
How can it be used?
The Motivated School training programme is engaging, challenging and stimulating. Exercises search souls on the themes of motivation, pedagogy and relationships. Where intuitive ideas have been duly unpicked, new models are proposed.
The elaborate modelling is a must for spatial thinkers, patting instantly recognisable, ‘everyday’ observations into new shapes.
Find out more
Visit the Motivated School website.
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