Engaging learners in the Level 3 Award in Education and Training
Why have you undertaken a training course, seminar, or workshop or even the Level 3 Award in Education and Training? No matter what you teach, your subject, your level, there is a reason learners will attend your training sessions. Maybe they are forced to go by their employer, they want to get out of working for an hour, they need it for their job, they want a pay rise or ideally, they are passionate about the subject and want to learn. Regardless, all of your learners have a motivation to attend. Like business, you have something they want.
Level 3 Award in Education and Training intrinsic motivation
We define motivation in the Level 3 Award in Education and Training as either intrinsic (which means within) so the learner wants to learn for their own fulfilment or extrinsic (outside) meaning there is an external factor motivating the learner such as they will get a promotion or pay rise. Some learners are perfect where they feel naturally enthusiastic to learn but a majority need you as the tutor to inspire, challenge, engage and stimulate them. Think of it this way, business owners want to improve their bottom line so are enthusiastic about learner new marketing strategies where other learners have been referred by the job centre and are told they must attend otherwise they’ll lose their benefits. There will be a clear difference between the two when it comes to motivation. With multiple years’ experience working in corporate training, a lot of learners get sent on courses because their manager thinks its good for them but for learners to thrive, they need to buy in to the course and believe it will benefit them.
Level 3 Award in Education and Training Maslow's hierarchy
You may of heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which attempts to explain motivation in a classroom. He felt that obstacles need to be removed to help an individual to achieve their goals and suggested there are five key motivational needs that must be achieved for maximum learning to happen. In the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) we state that each level must be achieved before the learner can move up to the next stage. It starts with physiological needs which makes sense, you need to be warm, comfortable, fed and hydrated to start. These are our human basic needs. If you’re hungry, you wont be fully able to concentrate.
Stage 2 is security and safety. This is whether the learner is in danger or is worried or anxious about anything that is happening such as an upcoming test. The Level 3 Award in Education and Training teaches you how to adapt your assessments to lower your learner’s anxiety. Stage 3 is about recognition and relationships, has the learner created valuable relationships in the classroom? We have all been there where we are inspired by our peer’s, and we want to impress others. Stage 4 is self-esteem and the training content, are your learners learning something useful? Think about a lesson where you didn’t see the value in it and compare it to a lesson where you thought it was the most important thing ever. This will dictate how much you try and retain. Lastly Stage 5 is about self-actualisation, are you realising the benefits of the course? Are you reaching your potential? This is easier to measure in long-term programmes where you can see a direct link to your work environment.
Level 3 Award in Education and Training studying tips
We will leave you with 10 tips to we offer our learners in the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) when they are studying with us.
- make tasks interesting, practical and relevant.
- negotiate clear targets.
- maintain an organised and orderly atmosphere.
- treat learners with respect and as individual.
- be aware of attention-span time limits.
- give ongoing constructive, supportive and developmental feedback.
- give praise and encouragement.
- set realistic aims and objectives.
- use activities to get learners actively working together.
- vary teaching, learning and assessment approaches to reach all learning preferences.
