The importance of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) professions to America's ability to advance its quality of life have long been a matter of discussion on a national level. The rewards of study in these areas are as evident to those who teach it, as they are, often, difficult for students to appreciate. This article…

As teachers and parents, our job is to teach students to tackle challenges rather than avoid them. Award-winning teacher and best-selling author Debbie Silver addresses the relationship between student motivation and risking failure, calling failure a temporary "glitch" that provides valuable learning opportunities. She explains motivational…

Describes strategies for fostering individual motivation, focusing on unique motivation issues faced by teams and how to overcome them. Suggests that motivational programs can improve performance and solve performance problems, and that the challenge is to find ways to support individual and cultural beliefs about success and what makes them…

This article discusses how two welfare education programs construct workforce success. Discourse about success in these programs falls into two basic camps: an individual-based self-motivation perspective and an external, structural, socioeconomic perspective. Although the individualistic perspective adhered to by the programs came into conflict…

The acquisition and the application of mental skills in sports and non-sport settings are discussed in this paper. The paper opens with an overview of the situation in Sweden; it is noted that 25% of the Swedish population have used mental training programs and that in the future all Swedes will have experienced such programs, since basic mental…

A case study of an Australian gifted youth with a learning disability is reported. Aspects of his schooling, his family support and encouragement, and his own task commitment are discussed as factors related to his being able to transcend his disability to a large extent. (Author/JDD)

Addresses the issue of master music teachers' motivation. Describes motivation as a learned habit reflecting these characteristics: clarity of purpose, delayed gratification, consistent persistence, continual self-evaluation, open-mindedness, emotional maturity, no fear of failure, and self-discipline. Attributes master music teachers' success to…

Relates findings from a review of the literature on six academic motivational constructs studied in traditional environments to online education concepts. Examines self-efficacy, locus of control, attributions, goal orientation, intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, and self-regulation to identify methods for ensuring student success in online…