As an expert in your field, you have helpful advice to give and information to share. Teaching an online course is a great way to contribute to your field and encourage others in their professional journeys.
However, teaching requires skills that may be out of your comfort zone. Being an effective online instructor is more than just passing on your hard earned knowledge. You can’t be effective if no one is paying attention!
Encouraging your students to sign up for or finish your online course means being thoughtful in your delivery - find what motivates them to learn!
Countless educators have written countless dissertations on what drives people in their pursuits. We could spend a lot of time wading through the research, but really, all you need to know is that there are two main types:
- Extrinsic Motivation
- Intrinsic Motivation
Let’s take a closer look at each and how they impact online learning.
Extrinsic Motivation
As the name suggests, extrinsic motivation relies on outside factors to encourage learning. Factors include incentives, fear, power, and social influence.
Incentives
Incentives are one of the most basic ways to motivate students. Simply put, the learner gets a reward for a job well done. If the learner is in first grade, the reward might be a sticker for a completed assignment.
If the learner is a travel professional in your online class, the reward might be new credentials or a coveted certification. It might also be an increase in pay from their employer for completing the class.
Incentives are a powerful form of motivation for online learners. If someone is debating whether or not to invest in an online class, a reward may be just what s/he needs to seal the deal.
On the flip side, once the class is complete and reward achieved, the learner no longer has a burning need to take another. This is your chance to create multiple classes (or modules) and certifications that appeal to both participants and their employers and keep them coming back. For every class participants complete, they earn another professional accolade.
Fear
While perhaps not a preferred motivational method, fear does play a role in online learning. To be clear, this doesn’t mean that YOU should inspire fear!
Instead, students may worry that they’ll lose their positions if they don’t have the latest industry accreditations or training.
For example, the travel and tourism industry now has new standards for sustainability in the wake of the pandemic. Travel professionals can take a “Sustainable Travel” course to keep up with the latest research to stay relevant and marketable.
While you may not be able to control what drives your students to take your class, it’s your job to understand how it impacts their learning.
Power
Sometimes online participants are looking for ways to take control of their professional trajectories. Courses like “Practical Leadership Skills” are designed to address these types of learners. The course is designed to explore effective leadership skills and apply them to the student’s unique situation. Participants earn a certificate of completion that can be added to a professional portfolio.
Social Influence
Finally, the last extrinsic factor we’ll look at is social influence. Even in an online setting, there’s a community of learners. When students join this community, they feel connected to you and to each other.
Your job is to nurture that network with collaborative projects and shared successes. Encourage your participants to be invested in the class and each other with shout outs, competitions, awards, etc. Create an inviting, team-focused environment with lots of positive reinforcement and recognition.
Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation is a desire to accomplish that comes from within. When online learners are intrinsically motivated, they are more likely to to be engaged in their own learning and achieve high standards.
We’ll focus on four kinds of intrinsic motivation that will play a role in how you teach.
Learning for Learning’s Sake
This is what teachers commonly refer to as the “dream student.” One who learns for the sheer joy of it. A student who is intrinsically motivated is committed to the process of learning as much as the end result.
As an instructor, your job is pretty easy with someone who is inspired by the learning path. However, you may need to adjust your technique if the student becomes bored or discouraged.
Attitude
Another primary focus for intrinsic learners is the idea that they can change their attitudes or the attitudes of others by learning more about a subject.
For example, perhaps someone is motivated to learn more about travel as a teaching tool or encourage others to embrace educational travel. The instructor could provide statistics, research, or compelling narratives that underscore the subject and validates the learner’s belief.
Giving professionals the tools they need to change attitudes is a goal to which all online instructors should aspire.
Achievement
Online learners motivated by achievement are goal oriented. They have lofty aspirations and are driven to succeed not by a reward, but by reaching the goal.
Meet your “achievers” where they are by challenging them, incorporating a multi-media approach to instruction, encouraging collaboration, and providing practical tools and tips for future success.
Creativity
We all know people who thrive on creativity. Many travel and tourism professionals have a gift for approaching their work with enthusiasm and imagination. It’s often how they sell destinations or attractions!
Incorporate the same kind of resourcefulness into your instruction. Online learning shouldn’t be boring. Break your lessons down into easily digestible bits (don’t overwhelm your students with too much information). As mentioned above, use a variety of media to teach. Make the most of current technology by including gamification or encourage project-based assessments.
If you think teaching is out of your wheelhouse, think again! You don’t have to have years of classroom experience to effectively teach an online course. Tap into the right motivational styles for your students and plan your instruction accordingly!
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