I have learned 12 principles in chapter 4. Among these principles, I would like to mention about principal 3 (the anticipation of reward). I strongly agree with the definition that human beings are universally driven to act, or behave, by the anticipation of some sort of reward- tangible or intangible or long-term- that will ensure as a result of the behavior, but it has mainly three problems. First, it makes students become dependent on short term rewards. Second, it coaxes them into a habit of looking to teachers and others for their only rewards. Third, it forestalls the development of their own internally administered, intrinsic system of rewards.
When I was a junior high school student, I often use this principle. I promised with my parents that if I got a good score on test, they gave me prize such as video game. In Japan there are a lot of parents who give some prizes if their child got good score, even though it is more effective to have intrinsic motivation. They never know that intrinsic motivation is better than extrinsic motivation.
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I agree that intrinsic motivation is better that extrinsic motivation. However, it is difficult to prompt children to have intrinsic motivation for something. When I was in school, I hated reading, so my father would give me money for reading books, which of course was an extrinsic motivation. So when I became more proficient in reading, and understood that reading can be enjoyable, I didn't ask for money from my parents for reading a book. Thus, extrinsic motivation turned into intrinsic motivation.
I think intrinsic motivation in the biggest challenge for teachers and professors, especially while working with students who are not clear about their future, have no plans or interests. This could be research topic for you, how to motivate Japanese students with giving them presents! =)
"it coaxes them into a habit of looking to teachers... for their only rewards". I agree whole-heartedly on this point. It can make students dependent instead of independent learners. Kind of like little mice, weaseling their way to an A+ without really remembering how they got there in the first place. But of course reward isn't totally negative either.
It would be interesting to figure out thought, if teaching could be possible without actually giving students grades, so there would be no competition.
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