How well a student learns depends not only on his inherent interest in the subject, but also on how motivated he is to learn. Most students will agree that a teacher plays a major role in shaping the learning experience. Considering this, it is important for teachers to develop skills that motivate students to learn and perform better. There is no single approach a teacher can use; she will need to try different methods to find ones that suit particular students.

Satisfying Needs
Students who enroll in a course have different motives: learning something new, perfecting their skills, feeling involved, overcoming challenges and interacting with others. A teacher who understands these factors and designs his instruction accordingly will succeed in motivating each student to learn. Not only should the teacher consider the capabilities and interests of students when deciding on assignments, she should also assess if the assignment promotes students' learning objectives.

Setting High Expectations
When discussing a new topic, the teacher shouldn't simply tell students things; he should ask probing questions that encourage them to think or ask them for alternative solutions. Students will perform to the level the teacher expect from them. The teacher's expectations should of course be realistic, but high enough to make students expand themselves beyond their comfort zone. When the teacher provides students with an opportunity to take up a challenge and guides them to necessary resources, they succeed in achieving the standards set. This boosts their belief in their capabilities and creates a desire to continue to achieve higher standards.

Providing Positive Feedback
Teachers should grade test papers thoughtfully, spend time evaluating how much students have learned and frame comments that emphasize to students how to improve performance. The importance of mastering the topic should be stressed rather than of merely achieving a high grade. If the writing is below par, the sincerity of effort should be praised. Sarcastic comments and criticism should be avoided; even a seemingly foolish answer should be considered and something of value should be drawn from it for the class to learn. Positive input will build their students' confidence and self-esteem and give them a sense of personal satisfaction from having made the effort. As students lose their fear of criticism, they are motivated to genuinely learn even if it means making a few mistakes .

Establishing Personal Contact
Every student brings with her a unique background and set of experiences that color her perception of the world. Getting to know your students at a personal level will help you understand what motivates them. Have your students fill out a questionnaire that asks about a few of their personal likes and dislikes and areas of interest or special skills. Draw on this information unobtrusively during classroom discussions to make students feel prized for the qualities you know about them. This recognition of their abilities will boost their self-confidence, and greater participation will give them a sense of involvement. Together, both these will motivate them to make greater efforts to learn better. Observe students during classroom activities to gauge their learning styles and provide them with guidance on using the techniques that will get them better results.