Motivated Mind (2-part series) (DVD)

Description

If high test scores bring praise or treats, students will develop good study habits – according to commonsense thinking, at least. But conventional wisdom is changing.

This two-part series sheds new light on the ways that children push their own limits, overcome challenges, and take pleasure in learning. Interviews with psychologists and education experts reveal counterintuitive but highly effective methods for building student confidence and achievement.

Portions are in Korean with English subtitles. Two-part series, 42-46 minutes each. Can purchase each part separately for $149.95. Available in DVD format only. Closed-captioned. 2006. SPECIAL: $279.95 for the series.

• The Power to Overcome Failure
  
  When a child is promised some kind of prize – such as candy, a toy, or money – for completing a task successfully, his or her drive to succeed often surges. But what effect does such carrot-dangling have on long-term motivation and progress?
  
  This program explores the relationship between rewards and human development, contrasting performance goals with learning goals. Simple observational experiments with babies, toddlers, and elementary- and middle-school students demonstrate that immediate gratification often leads to lower motivation and skill development – while focusing on the learning process and its more subtle rewards creates better academic results. 46 minutes.
  
  
• No Child Without Motivation
  
  To prevent children from being left behind, educators must create goals that are integrated into the skills-building process, not just based on rewarding success. This program illustrates the impact of both approaches on young learners, monitoring their levels of motivation and confidence.
  
  Showing how learning-oriented students take on projects based on a desire to expand their abilities – while performance-oriented kids shy away from anything truly challenging – the program demonstrates the importance of autonomy, or letting a child explore his or her own choices. One experiment highlights the negative effects of intrusive parental pressure. 42 minutes.