In 1990 Ellen Moir described six emotional phases that new teachers go through: anticipation, survival, disillusionment, rejuvenation, reflection, and anticipation. It seems likely that these are actually emotional phases that all teachers go through each year to varying degrees. It’s impossible to characterize the past school year as a typical one and therefore unlikely that all educators experienced each phase in the same way or to the same degree.

Are you getting ready for a virtual conference? COVID has forced many if not all professional organizations to rethink their traditional conference format. There is much to like about virtual conferences, but there are a few things to consider so that you can get the most out of your virtual conference experience.

Why would educators gather for a 3-day workshop on the topic of learner motivation? Frustration about consistently activating motivation in learners and at a loss for what to do next are feelings that all instructors have had at one point or another in their teaching journey. At heart, motivation is a system based on judgement, perception, and emotion. Student perceptions, mindsets, social status, prior experiences, and feelings of self-efficacy impact what is motivating and what is motivational.