The Teacher Motivation Working Group (TMWG) is comprised of individuals across various sectors interested in advancing the understanding of teacher motivation in order to uncover the factors (both intrinsic and extrinsic) that have an impact on teachers providing quality instruction as a channel for improving student learning outcomes.
The TMWG was conceived of during a workshop that was held at the annual 2013 Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) conference in New Orleans. During this conference, workshop organizers from Save the Children, the International Rescue Committee, the Center for International Education at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and New York University presented their work and literature on teacher motivation issues in developing and emergency education contexts. The TMWG has officially partnered with the TTF.
Since CIES, TMWG membership has grown to include interested individuals from FHI 360, Education Development Center, Chemonics, UNESCO, Asia Advisory, GPE, UNHCR, Childfund, RTI, INEE, USAID, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Columbia Teachers College, and Stanford University, among others.
The TMWG runs a monthly series of webinars to share evidence and experience related to teacher motivation, well-being, attitudes, and beliefs. In addition, the TMWG compiles existing studies and resources as well as conducts its own research on the topic. The goal of the working group is to create a Teacher Motivation Support Guide for practitioners and policymakers to enhance teacher professional development activities and teacher policies to better support K-12 teachers in their efforts to achieve student learning objectives in low-income environments around the world.
The core activities of the TMWG are the following:
The core activities of the TMWG are the following:
- Assemble research on the dynamics of teacher motivation around the worldIdentify gaps in the research and guide an inter-organizational research agenda
- Serve as a clearinghouse for lessons on teacher motivation and recommendations for improving and sustaining teacher motivation as part of the effort to improve student learning outcomes
Purpose: to advance the understanding of teacher motivation in order to uncover the factors (both intrinsic and extrinsic) that have an impact on teachers providing quality instruction as a channel for improving student learning outcomes in low income contexts.
Scope of TMWG Activities: All K-12 teachers who work in low-income contexts in all countries of the world. This encompasses all types of teachers; including civil service, paraprofessionals, contract teachers, community teachers, etc.
Definition of Teacher Motivation:
Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in teachers to be continually interested and committed to making their best effort to help support student learning goals.
| The TMWG partners with the TTF in order to create an evidence base that highlights teachers’ realities in a variety of challenging contexts. This group will also strive to put research and evidence in the hand of policy makers and funders in order to promote teacher well-being and motivation in order to ensure quality instruction in the classroom. If you and/or your organization is interested in taking part of the TMWG, please send a message to the group coordinators, Jarret Guajardo- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; Emily Richardson- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. For more information about the group and their activities, go to the TMWG Website  |
 Photo credit Michael Bisceglie |