Extrinsic motivations can come from positive or negative external reinforcement. Such motivations may include salary, material benefits, vacations and rewards. A teacher might be motivated based on their perception of how well they are compensated for their work. For example, teachers often get professional development hours or further their education because they are motivated to move up on a pay scale.
Autonomy, feedback, job security and evaluative scores are other extrinsic factors that can motivate teachers to stay or possibly to leave. Some educators may also consider having motivated students and resources for support as extrinsic motivators. Therefore, helping students to be motivated can be significant in the field of education as it can influence teacher motivation.
In education, extrinsic motivators can also negatively affect teachers. For example, the measurement of teacher competence through student achievement scores can negatively affect teacher motivation if they feel they have no control over students’ test scores. Teacher evaluations are also associated with negative extrinsic motivation if teachers feel they are measured by impossible expectations rather than by the work they do every day.
Teachers are often faced with unrealistic expectations, which is one of the top reasons they leave the field.1 Teachers have to manage lesson planning, student behavior, grading, parent communication, relationships, politics, committees, virtual learning, and actual lesson teaching to name a few. When teachers are then measured by unrealistic expectations, they lose self-efficacy and motivation.
While autonomy and building competence can support intrinsic motivation, they can also support extrinsic motivation. Supporting teacher development and self-efficacy by recognizing their efforts and providing resources that neutralize unrealistic expectations may help them feel more motivated to perform.
Ways to emphasize extrinsic motivation:
- Provide professional development opportunities based on interest
- Provide positive feedback and reinforcement
- Write a personal note to a teacher or peer
- Provide resources to support teachers and students
- Build a community with motivation for teachers and students
- Provide autonomy for teachers when able
- Highlighting teacher efforts in a school newsletter
- Allow teachers to peer observe and learn from one another
- Focus evaluations on effort and growth