There is a saying that the most challenging part of self-study is to get started. After that, the rest of the steps automatically become easy. But for some students, it becomes even more difficult to constantly be motivated, especially when the end looks so far away. It can be challenging to keep up the motivation for an extended piece of work. At that point, even inspirational study quotes for students do not help. Yet teachers can use motivational study quotes to boost confidence in their teaching. 

Teachers can play a vital role in motivating students to do self-study in various ways. However, there is no single strategy that will work for every student. It is more important to notice whether the student agrees with you than if your system is working. 

Strategies to Motivate Self-Learning

• The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro technique is all about timely calculated activity. First, start studying for twenty-five minutes, then take a break for ten minutes. Repeat the cycle four times and then take a long break. It is better to set a timer rather than check the clock while following this. While taking a break, do something physical to be active and try not to sit for something like watching tv or surfing your mobile phone. 

• Self Study Engaged Learning Framework (SELF)

Self Study Engaged Learning Framework (SELF) has internal and external tools to consider and internal and external users. While designing a self-study tool, how the agency focuses on knowledge understanding and mastery should be evaluated. It should be encouraging, not demotivating, and also provide formative feedback. This tool helps students to manage their time, progress, and success. 

• Breakdown Lessons into Chunks

Big lesson tasks such as writing a dissertation or revising for long hours can be highly demotivating if done regularly. To make self-reading less daunting, teachers must break down the lessons into small chunks for the students. The focal point should be to make a simple, straightforward to-do task and maintain it according to sections. 

• Discover the Reason for Procrastination

Procrastination is a complicated issue that can have varied reasons. The students can feel that the topic is boring, homework is behind their capability to finish, they are waiting for the ‘right ‘time to start, or the students can be so overwhelmed that they feel puzzled about where to start. To motivate a student teacher needs to understand the specific reason for procrastination. Spending some time and watching videos all the time can lead to the cause of procrastination. Also, procrastination can be a boon for the students as ‘Structured Procrastination is a fantastic strategy which converts a procrastinator into a responsible human being who gets respect and admiration for all their accomplishments. So converting a procrastinating student to a responsible one is a big task for the teacher. 

• Expectancy – Value – Cost Model

Although numerous self-motivating approaches have been proposed through decades, Expectancy-Value-Cost stands tall among many of them. It captures the main element of what motivates students and demonstrates the wide range of achievements associated with behavior. It has crucial components like expectancy of success and value for engagement in a task. Teachers can promote motivation to study through this process. 

• Keep up the Positivity

Keeping a positive environment and talking with a smiling face are equally important. A teacher must stay positive to motivate his students. Negativity has a far more significant negative impact in the long run. Teachers can advise against accepting positivity through self-love. To improves positivity in a pattern, and students can be thankful for at least three things every day. This will remove the negative impact on the mind and provide them with study motivation. 

• Offer Incentive

Teachers should know the students’ names first-hand before starting the lesson. Good bonding is a way to motivate a student. Creating an incentive or reward system can bring out the utmost interest in the student to start self-studying. Make a deal to reward the students after completing the final study. If a student can have trouble focusing, then a short-time reward system works best initially. Sometimes to make the reward system more effective, it might need to be customized. For example, some students might like storybooks, and some like music. Teachers need to create customized options in groups if there is a motivation issue. 

• Be Creative

Teachers can avoid monotony by changing the course structure for the students. Thinking creatively is a great way to keep up the motivation for students to do self-study. Colorful diagrams and charts and creating lessons through games and discussions instead of plain and boring lectures will make the students lively and motivated. Be creative in a stimulating, warm, and encouraging environment. 

• Deliver Clear Expectations and Feedback

Feedback has a stimulating influence on the learners for their self-motivation and achievement. It is the critical element of the cumulative process of ongoing learning and review. When the teacher provides clear expectations in front of the students, they get motivated to self-study and achieve their goals. Feedback is one of the most effective learning and teaching strategies that immediately impact students’ progress. A high quality, specific and timely feedback positively increases the chance of self-study. 

To Sum Up

A teacher has to understand that the process of self-study is different for different students. A thing that motivates one student can be demotivating for another. With so many strategies for helping a student self-study, at least some should work in the long run. With the manual tips and tricks, you can also opt for digital help regarding this issue. Classplus helps out, especially the teachers, to make the teaching and learning process more manageable. Teachers can make their strategies to teach students from their own app. When combined with in-person aspects, this digital process creates a more significant impact on the new generation of students.