by Carl J. Wenning, Coordinator
Physics Teacher Education Program
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-4560
Copyright (c) Carl Wenning, 2004
November 8, 2004
This principle says that student success, S, equals innate ability (Ai)
times learned ability (Al) times motivation (M) times effort (E). There is
nothing fundamental that a teacher can do about innate ability.
Nonetheless, providing students with improved learning skills might be a way
of effectively
increasing
ability. Motivation has to be internal if the student is going to succeed;
it must not be confused with coercion. The rewards of the current system are
not
enough to get students to learn. Students need to be strongly self-motivated
in order to expend the effort needed to get ahead.