PLEASE!...I Promise This is Important

One of the greatest challenges in any classroom is answering the question as to how to motivate students to learn.  There is of course, the age-old approach of the grand monologue, in which the distinguished teacher proclaims the importance of education and the power of knowledge before his or her students; however, as many teachers will attest to, no matter how honed a teacher’s persuasive powers are, this attempt to persuade students is like applying a surface anesthetic, very seldom does it penetrate to the depths needed.  At best this approach gives an understanding of the importance of learning, but it falls well short of actually motivating students to actually put into practice what they know is important.