That'll be $4.39, please
When I was taking psychology 101, I remember this study where they gave children all kinds of art supplies and let them draw. Then in one group, children were awarded stickers and prizes for every painting. In the control group, the children didn't get any prizes. After a while, the children who got rewarded actually drew less and seemed less interested in drawing.
I think this is where I am at with my writing now. I was lucky enough to get a couple of paid assignments lately. Although the check is in the mail and not in my hand yet, I already feel a change of attitude already.
Let's see. That's about 10 words. How much is that worth? A dollar, at ten cents a word? OK you owe me a dollar.
See, this post is a bit of procrastination. I have two more assignments I could be working on, more query letters I could write, but I'm having trouble just writing a short blog post. When you're being paid to write, why does there seem to be more pressure and less fun involved?
I think I earned too many stickers!
This concept could also be applied to teaching. Sometimes the model students, the ones that want to earn 100% on everything, really annoy me. Sometimes I prefer the students that really don't give a $@*#* about grades but ask good questions. And the "lazy" ones that don't take notes but at least act interested and still pay attention to what's happening because they're truly interested, not because it's going to be on the exam. And of course you have to love the ones that are polite enough to laugh at my jokes because they are just nice people, not because they're brown nosing. Well that might be foolish to think there's anyone in that last category ;)
Have we messed up education by giving away gold stars and A+'s ?
If we were communists and just working for the common good, not for the dollar, would we really be as motivated to do our jobs?
Hmmm...the dollar can be motivating. Time to tap into my inner capitalist and get cracking on those projects. I have dollars to earn and shoes to buy....
I think this is where I am at with my writing now. I was lucky enough to get a couple of paid assignments lately. Although the check is in the mail and not in my hand yet, I already feel a change of attitude already.
Let's see. That's about 10 words. How much is that worth? A dollar, at ten cents a word? OK you owe me a dollar.
See, this post is a bit of procrastination. I have two more assignments I could be working on, more query letters I could write, but I'm having trouble just writing a short blog post. When you're being paid to write, why does there seem to be more pressure and less fun involved?
I think I earned too many stickers!
This concept could also be applied to teaching. Sometimes the model students, the ones that want to earn 100% on everything, really annoy me. Sometimes I prefer the students that really don't give a $@*#* about grades but ask good questions. And the "lazy" ones that don't take notes but at least act interested and still pay attention to what's happening because they're truly interested, not because it's going to be on the exam. And of course you have to love the ones that are polite enough to laugh at my jokes because they are just nice people, not because they're brown nosing. Well that might be foolish to think there's anyone in that last category ;)
Have we messed up education by giving away gold stars and A+'s ?
If we were communists and just working for the common good, not for the dollar, would we really be as motivated to do our jobs?
Hmmm...the dollar can be motivating. Time to tap into my inner capitalist and get cracking on those projects. I have dollars to earn and shoes to buy....
posted by Nelumbo at 6:07 PM
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