The Fun of Motivation: Crossing the Threshold Concepts (Publications in Librarianship #71)

ALA Member
$43.20
Price
$48.00
Item Number
978-0-8389-8933-3
Published
2017
Pages
182
Width
6"
Height
9"
Format
Softcover
AP Categories
A
I
L
P

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  • Description
  • Table of Contents
  • About the author

What’s the place of fun in education? When students learn something new, they reach a learning edge, a threshold, where learning becomes uncomfortable because the material is difficult or beyond their understanding. To avoid this discomfort, some students can simply fall back on what they already know. This is a critical point, because if they do not move beyond the edge, they are stuck with both limited knowledge and a negative feeling about learning. Fun can be used as a motivating technique to help students get past this learning edge, and to meet an established goal or learning objective. 

The Fun of Motivation: Crossing the Threshold Concepts is organized into two parts—Part I examines the theories behind motivation and fun in the classroom, and offers three instructional techniques that highlight their benefits. Part II is the application of the theories explored in Part I, and its six chapters each address one of the threshold concepts provided in ACRL’s Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Each chapter contains three lesson plans addressing the threshold concept, one for each of the three fun instructional techniques. Assessment opportunities are provided throughout, with formative assessment strategies as well as summative assessments, including sample rubrics to apply to a range of student work. Each lesson plan ends with a section on possible modifications and accommodations and additional ideas on how to adapt the lesson for different student populations.

The threshold concepts within the Framework need to be facilitated with deliberation by librarians integrating them into their instruction sessions. Students must be motivated to learn these concepts that help them master skills across disciplines. The Fun of Motivation can help you explore, implement, and assess this powerful means of motivation.

Introduction

Part I. Background and Theory

Chapter 1: Motivation of Students
Chapter 2. Fun as a Means of Motivation
Chapter 3. Humor
Chapter 4. Games
Chapter 5. Group Work


Part II. Fun as a Means of Motivation

Chapter 6. Framework Concept: Authority Is Constructed and Contextual
Chapter 7. Framework Concept: Information Creation as a Process
Chapter 8. Framework Concept: Information Has Value
Chapter 9. Framework Concept: Research as Inquiry
Chapter 10. Framework Concept: Scholarship as Conversation
Chapter 11. Framework Concept: Searching as Strategic Exploration

Conclusion

Mary Francis

Mary Francis is an Associate Professor and Reference and Instruction Librarian at Dakota State University.