Journal Article Review Factors Motivating College Students to Learn - Essay Example

? Journal Article Review – ‘Factors Motivating College to Learn’ al affiliation Journal Article Review - Factors Motivating College Students to Learn Halawah’s article on ‘Students’ motivation to learn from students’ perspective’ is mostly concerned with motivating college students to successful learning. Halawah (2011) conducts a research to analyze the major reasons behind carrying out motivation of learners and its impacts on learning. With the sample of 232 participants used a sample, Halawah aimed at shedding light on the reasons behind motivation of college learners in the school setting. Authorities are cited and their credibility Halawah’s (2011) journal entails works researched by diverse researchers and analysts. Nonetheless, I am not conversant with any of the establishments referenced in this work. From the compilations, I would contentedly argue that, a huge percentage of these authors have spent a lot of their time in the educational sector, by and large as educators in renowned universities. Brophy, one of the cited authors has also made a lot of contributions in making the work on ‘Enhancing Adult Motivation to Learn’ a successful and useful piece in the educational context. On the other hand, the article and textbook refer to two different works by the author. Other works by Halawah Halawah (2006) has published other works like ‘The impact of student-faculty informal interpersonal relationships on intellectual and personal development’ a college Student Journal besides the work on ‘Students’ motivation to learn from students’ perspective’, that focuses on conducting research on the contribution of students’ unofficial interpersonal relations on the development of learners’ intellectual and personal development. The work is a recent piece that was published in 2006; thus, useful in the study of learners and their development. Additionally, Halawah (2006) has yet another 2006 journal publication on ‘The effect of motivation, family environment, and student characteristics on academic achievement’, which aims at analyzing the impact of motivation, the learners’ home environment and the learner attributes on their academic achievement. Halawah (2005) is also the publisher of the work, ‘The relationship between effective communication of high school principal and school climate’ of 2005. This work outlines the attributes of an effective and successful principal in a school setting. The key attribute emphasized in this article is the need for cultivating communication for a conducive learning environment. Research findings versus the results The research findings indeed follow logically from the findings as described in the article. The findings concur with the studies conducted on the 232 participants who took part in the study (Halawah, 2011). From the findings, it is evident that all the factors that contribute to motivation of the learners have been analyzed one by one. The concepts that relate to teacher personality and classroom management have been studied through the responses of the learners. For instance, the ability of the teacher to create a conducive environment to take place has been described in the findings with the mean standing at 4.6 for lessons well planned; thus, motivate learners. Results from the findings also include the teacher creating an open atmosphere for learning that motivates learners. Collaborative effort between teachers and the learners has also been described in the learning setting as an aspect that leads to motivation among the learners. Other aspects that relate to the learners have been discussed in the results section, like setting of considerable goals, increasing the esteem of learners, having a positive rapport with the learners amongst others are linked with the research conducted in the study. In this case, it is justified to argue that the research findings follow logically from the results discussed in the article. Sample selection The study conducted by Halawah (2011) was imposed on the students of the Al-Ain University, of the United Arab Emirates, whose population is above 5000 students. In this research, the researcher collected the data from students using cluster sampling. From the samples selected in the five random selected classes, out of the total participants, 162 of them were female respondents, while 70 of them were male respondents. This makes 70% female and 30% male of the total 232 learners (Halawah, 2011). This sample indeed includes a cross-section of both genders into the study; thus, the research is not biased. The research’s preconceived notions An analysis of the research conducted by Halawah (2011) indicates no evidence of bias in the research. This can be proven by the fact that, the research was conducted in the United Arab Emirates, a country that comprises of varying cultures and religions, as compared to the case in the United States. This case study was studied in the Al-Ain University that is much more concerned with Science and Technology; therefore, the concerns of the learners in this institution may not coincide with the same as that of the learners in the areas of study that deal with non-STEM concepts (Halawah, 2011). However, the responses from the survey conducted by Halawah tend to rely mostly on the responses by women. The researcher shed more light on the women in the scientific fields; thus, it would be warranted to make the assumption that the researcher focused mostly on the women in the large student populations. In as much both genders are included in the study; the study shed more light on the female gender in the research. In this case, only a narrow section of the Al-Ain University community has put under scrutiny. Contrasts and comparisons with other works Halawah (2011) work compares and contrasts with other works of literature that relate to students and the factors behind their motivation. Among these factors as discussed above include, creation of a suitable atmosphere that would allow for learning and giving feedback in the course of learning, allowing the learners derive meanings from the concepts taught, importance of giving proper and appropriate feedback to the learners , as well as, making the educators enthusiastic on their role as educators. All these factors are indeed, related to the concept of nurturing the teaching perspective in the learning setting. Among the related works to Halawah’s include; Pratt& Associates’ work of 1998 that deals with the five perspectives on the teaching adult learners in the higher educational setting. This work indicates that the process of learning is much more concerned with self-concept and effectiveness (Pratt & Associates’, 1998). This is an interpretation of the fact that learners are comfortable with concepts that are of relevance to their day to day lives. For this kind of learning to be possible, the entire concept turns down to Halawah’s concept of motivation that allows learners develop confidence in what they are good at. The work also emphasizes the need to develop trust and reverence among the learners in the learning procedure. Cultivating high-quality rapport between the educator and the learners seeks to create a learning environment that does not constraint one party or the other. This means that the learning course must encompass reasonable expectations that do not seem unattainable by the learners. Yet another work that is related to Halawah’s work includes Wlodkowski’s (2008) work on need to enhance the adults to learn within the learning context. This work advises that the best educators in the teaching and learning context are those that show compassion in the concepts they aim to teach in the learning environment. Such teachers are able to motivate their learners towards having a positive attitude towards the lesson. According to Wlodkowski’s (2008), such lessons are characterized with mood and expression in the course of teaching and learning. According to Wlodkowski (2008), instructors, play an essential role in the delivery of the lesson in the learning setting. It is, for that reason, the role of the educators to ensure that they are active in the case of creating lifelong emotions and affirmative perceptions among the learners. This is from the reason that, feelings that are instilled in individuals tend to be lasting, and shape the kind of behavior they are likely to depict in the learning environment. In another line of argument, setting of considerable goals by the teachers allows learners plan their learning schedule in a considerable manner that would minimize stress among the learners as they work within a substantial timelines. Furthermore, Wlodkowski (2008) emphasizes that if the educators lead to the learners grasping the concepts taught and that it is their responsibility to do so, performance cannot be escaped in the learning environment. This makes it easier for the teachers to track the progress of the learners as well as motivate them by regulating how the learners progress in their studies. The link between the effort of the educator and that of the learners creates a collaborative effort that sees a discussion of the strategies to be applied so as create a favorable learning environment for the learners, through motivation. Research and contribution to education The research by Halawah (2011) indeed contributes a great mile to adult education by motivating the learners, the major beneficiary of education. The research is indeed not teacher centered, but improves on the perception of teachers on motivation mostly relying on classroom performance. The research goes ahead to prove the fact that motivation is way beyond creating an appropriate classroom environment, but creating a lasting perception on the learners on their need to develop learning in the classroom setting (Halawah, 2011). With this, the work is unique unlike the many that are more concerned with teachers and motivation. Halawah’s study and implication on the adult education practice Halawah has really made a great contribution to the adult educational practice. This case mostly aids the instructors of adult education who are mostly involved the development of a lifelong program that will aid the teachers in creating the best learners, by manipulating all the tools that would be of assistance to the learners. As an adult educator, I would use this information, in conjunction with the one on ‘nurturing perspective’ by always creating a learning environment that would be beneficial for the learners, through provision of instant feedback, to boost the learners confidence, and most importantly, constantly motivating them. Additionally, this study would help me use the findings on a practical view by testing the findings in my classroom, especially at the commencement of the lesson. From the results, I would be better placed top scrutinize the best approach to use on my current learners, since different approaches fit diverse learners. References Halawah, I. (2005).The relationship between effective communication of high school principal and school climate. Education, 2005; 126.2; p334. ---------------- (2006).The impact of student-faculty informal interpersonal relationships on intellectual and personal development. College Student Journal, 2006; 40.3; p.670. ----------------- (2006).The effect of motivation, family environment, and student characteristics on academic achievement. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 2006; 33.2; p91. ------------------ (2011). Factors influencing college students’ motivation to learn from students’ perspective. Education, 2011; Vol. 132, No. 2. Pratt, D.C. & Associates. (1998). Five perspectives on teaching in adult and higher education. Malabar: Florida. Wlodkowski, R.J. (2008). Enhancing adult motivation to learn. 3rd Ed. 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