Give teens freedom and autonomy
Students have an intrinsic psychological need to feel like they have control over their lives and are able to make choices on their own.
The feeling of being forced into something immediately creates mental resistance, making students think of something as a boring chore rather than engaging in an activity authentically.
OVERVIEW
Dos and Don'ts
RECOMMENDATION 1/2
Try to refrain from framing activities as “homework” or something that is mandatory
When something is enforced on a student, it becomes a chore
Some teens have perception that if something is forced on them, it becomes “uncool”
RECOMMENDATION 2/2
Give students freedom for how they want to approach an activity
By giving them flexibility and control over how exactly they want to do something, students get a sense of autonomy, which is key to self-motivation
Makes students feel like they have arrived at a learning conclusion on their own through their own merits
Give students a sense of freshness and novelty compared to everyday school lessons