Getting through your MBA/MSc : Keys to Motivation

How do you maintain motivation in order to get you through your MBA/MSc? Let's look at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. The page below shows numerous visual representations of this hierarchy.

(http://www.google.ca/search?q=Maslow%27s+hierarchy+of+needs&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=UEU&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivnsb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=SyduTtDYIKbK0AHS0cHVBA&ved=0CFoQsAQ&biw=1094&bih=550)

A cursory examination of these various visual attempts to illustrate Maslow's principles establishes that self-actualization exists near or at the highest level of this hierarchy needs. (Please note this is not an affirmation of any of the correctness of any of these visual representations, simply that many visual representations of Maslow's hierarchy exist.)

Educators have noted that students need to use their school work, not be able to have a career and money, but strong achievers use their school work to tie into the goals of self esteem and self affirmation. Bob Poston's article, "An Exercise in Personal Exploration: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs" describes Maslow's hierarchy of needs from the lowest to the highest needs in this manner:
1. Physiological Needs
2. Safety Needs
3. Belonging and Love Needs
4. Esteem Needs (Google Scholar, http://tabacco.blog-city.co/maslows_hierarchy_of_needs__physiological_level_1_to_selfact.htm, 08/15/2011)

Thus Maslow asserts that students are more motivated if what they are learning helps them establish and strengthen what we call the higher needs, that is esteem. Self esteem reinforces feelings of self worth and happiness.

For adult learners in Distance Education to remain motivated can be difficult. The adult learner often feels alone in the educational process. They seem to have no cohort and certainly have no actual physical classroom. Thus, students without sufficient discipline and inner motivation can find themselves adrift without the familiar world of the classroom they knew elsewhere. What do we do to remedy this?

At the University of Leicester, we try and duplicate the classroom environment by encouraging students to stay connected with their fellow students and module tutors through Blackboard, through encouraging them to attend summer school and by providing ways to remain in contact through the internet with skills and dissertation tutors. Students need to use these tools if they find themselves drifting off course and cannot connect stay on course with their module assignments and examinations. Valuable advise can be helpful to stay on track throughout the programme.

To summarize, the way I see it is that two qualities are essential for success. One is to remain firmly focused on the prize, that is the MBA itself. The second quality is, as I've suggested in this blog already, is to feel a sense of success and accomplishment as you make your way through each and every assignment and exam. Mark your successes in some way. Stay aware of how achievement of these goals will bring the desired result, the MBA. Keep your head in the game. This is how students before have completed this programme and how you will do the same thing.

KB

Leicester Summer School 2011

Well, I've been home from Summer School in the UK for almost two weeks now. I wanted to extend my greetings to all of the students who visited me during the week of July 25-29th . I learned a great deal from every one of you. I'm hoping to make the blog more exciting and more interactive during the next year. I was very chuffed to find out how many people actually read this blog and how many of the blog users try my approaches to: reading, studying, learning, stress and organizing work.

This merely encourages me to try and get more imaginative with the blog. I'm glad people are really reading it because I want this blog to have a little more than information. It is, to a great extent, interactive. I like when people write about questions. So, for the coming year - good luck - and for those who are leaving us double good luck - the job climate requires that students present more than a smile a briefcase these days.