Alfie Kohn

Once Upon a Time...

The End

The Moral of the story is…

Extrinsic Rewards Reduce

Intrinsic Motivation

- Alfie Kohn

Alfie Kohn

Born Oct 15, 1957, Miami, FL

Married, 2 kids

B.A. , Brown University 1979 (created his own disciplinary

course of study)

M.A. , University of Chicago

Has taught high school in PA and MA

Currently lecturer/author living in Boston, MA

Influences:

John Dewey (1859 – 1952)USA - Education Reformer

Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980)Switzerland - Father of Genetic

Epistemology

Genetic Epistemology:

“The study of knowledge as a biological process…a matter of adaptation by an organism to an

environment”.

From newborns to

ca. age 11

Don’t get Alfie started on…

Standardized Testing Tra

ditional

Schoolin

g

Conventional

DisciplineBehaviorism

Competition

Homework

Standardized Tests…

…should not be the only means by which students or schools are evaluated.…should not, in any case, be imposed by fiat on all schools in the state.…should not be administered too often.…are inappropriate for young children.…should be used to rate, never to rank.

Grades and Rewards:

Rupture Relationships

Ignore Reason

Discourage Risk-Taking

Cut into the Desire to Learn

Are a Punishment

Signs you’re in a

•Chairs all face forward and…’shudder’…in a row.

•Packaged instructional material displayed orderly on walls.

•Commercial posters, list of rules, sticker/star charts, samples of

work from only the ‘brightest’ students.

•Teacher is highly visible, front and center, in control and authoritative.

•All students waiting for the next set of teacher-initiated activity or responding to teacher-initiated questions.

BAD CLASSROOM

Signs you’re in a

Multiple activity centers featuring various classroom structures including open spaces and large tables for student group work.

Room overflowing with a variety of materials, apparatus and supplies.

Displays of student projects demonstrating student collaboration or personal memos initiated by the students.

A buzz or low-level hum of activity featuring students exchanging ideas.

A warm, respectful teacher mingling with students.

Students eager and excited about learning as they actively question one another.

Multiple activities taking place simultaneously with students working in pairs or groups.

Progressive Classroom

Traditional education:

Progressive Education:

“Free - Form Curriculum”

American Psychological Association’s National Psychology Award for Excellence in the Media, 1987

National Parenting Publication Awards – NAPPA Gold Award, 2006

National Council of Teachers of English George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contribution to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language, 2000

Other books by Alfie Kohn:

The Real End