Motivating students in the 21st century

Purpose To examine instructors' and students' perspectives on motivation in the classroom and clinical environments and to explore instructional strategies educators can use to motivate college students in the 21st century. Methods Articles selected for this review were from peer-reviewed journals and scholarly sources that emphasized student and educator perspectives on motivation and instructional strategies to increase student motivation. Results Understanding how college students are motivated can help educators engage students in lessons and activities, ultimately improving the students' academic performance. Discussion Students exhibit increased motivation in classes when educators have high expectations, conduct an openatmosphere classroom, and use multidimensional teaching strategies. Instructional styles such as connecting with students, creating an interactive classroom, and guiding and reminding students improved student motivation. Conclusion Radiologic science educators must be mindful of how college students are motivated and use various instructional strategies to increase students' motivation in the classroom and clinical setting.