Incentivising Learning

FBaby

Totally against it! School and tests is not just about learning the subject but also about learning that school is the foundation to their future. They need to learn about delay gratification and the rewards for their hard work will come step by step.

Giving children money for making a one off effort is teaching them that they only have to put energy into things that will get them an immediate reward, and I don't think that's giving them a good lesson in life.

arbroath_lass

FBaby wrote: »

Totally against it! School and tests is not just about learning the subject but also about learning that school is the foundation to their future. They need to learn about delay gratification and the rewards for their hard work will come step by step.

Giving children money for making a one off effort is teaching them that they only have to put energy into things that will get them an immediate reward, and I don't think that's giving them a good lesson in life.

I hardly think exams are a one-off effort, it's a lot of studying. Have you never had a bonus at the end of a project?

FBaby

I don't have an issue with rewarding my children afterwards because they took it upon themselves to work hard but they would never expect it because that's not why they worked hard.

That's very different to giving a financial reward so that they decide to work hard. Taking your example, you rarely get a bonus from your boss just so that he can be assured you will give your best to the project, you get it after you've done it and your efforts have paid off with good work.

onlyroz

pinkshoes wrote: »

When you have siblings of different abilities and varying skills, it is not very wise to give financial incentives based on result.

I'm not saying that you should expect the *same* result from all kids. But I don't see the problem in rewarding for effort, and also rewarding for performance on the day. And I'm not just talking about exams - younger children should be rewarded for completing tasks successfully, whether that's an extra pound because they got an A in their homework, or giving them an ice-cream because they helped you put the laundry away. It's all part of teaching your kids that hard work is worthwhile.

Detroit

Hard work should be the default position, with
rewards reserved for exemplary effort only.
Laziness should result in negative consequences, such as removal of privileges.
It may sound harsh, but that's generally the way of the world.
Children taught to expect a financial incentive for nothing more than taking the educational opportunities they are fortunate to receive can grow up with an attitude of entitlement that can makes the adult world a huge shock.

MPD

A few thoughts on this.

1. Its their job, of course they should get paid to do it.
2. Motivation is always better when its intrinsic. As already mentioned, if the reward disappears the motivation disappears.
3. Bribery generally works. Why not take advantage of this in a positive way, especially when teenagers may not always know what is best for them.

onomatopoeia99

I just got on with studying because I wanted to learn. I thought everyone did. I played computer games as well (and wrote them too) but always made sure my homework was done / exams were revised for. No incentive required.

jackyann

Depends on personal and family values.We all do the best we can, but since it has been asked:

Goes completely against the grain for us, I think that paying for results ends up with people knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
Completely my personal opinion, related to the way we view the world and the values we wished to live by.

cadon

Andypandyboy wrote: »

Their results have to matter as much, if not more, to them than they do to you. Otherwise, when the bank of mum and dad closes the motivation ceases.

I had no idea how important my school grades would turn out to be. They don't get covered up by more complicated exams, they stay with you a long time. If I hadn't done as well in my school exams as I had, I wouldn't have been eligible to apply for my first graduate job.

I think my parents were right to bribe me - I was too young to appreciate what the consequences would be of not pushing myself that bit further. Working a bit harder for some extra cash is fun. Working a bit harder because your adult life will be doomed otherwise is a lot of pressure.

Bribery can work. If you can afford to offer financial incentives, go for it.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I got my Dad to sign a contract agreeing cash for GCSE results; I think it was £5 for a C, £10 for a B and £20 for an A. It was more a bit of fun; I was a right little girly swot and had always done well in tests.

I had a lovely spending spree in HMV (a ye olden dayes retailer of audio products in "compact disc" form).

Edit: didn't affect my motivation or future studies and I've been financially independent since I left university.