"Teaching with a lot of control is easy. Handing control over to the
students, and planning for every possible outcome, adapting instruction
where they take it, is extremely difficult, but worth it." This statement means that it is easier for teachers to keep complete control of their students than to allow their students to have some control of the classroom as well. Teachers can hand over some control to the students while supporting their learning by offering multiple options for projects, allowing students to decide if they want to work individually or in groups, letting students chose their own rewards, etc.
In my fieldwork experience, there was a lot controlled by the teacher. However, I also saw several instances of student-controlled activities. The best example I can think of was "stations." Stations were organized as follows: students had 5 tasks they were required to do each week (teacher has control) but the students were allowed to chose in which order they wanted to do the stations, and also the specifics at each station - for example, which story they would read (students have control). I think this was a great balance of control between the teacher and the students.
I think giving students some control of their own learning helps foster intrinsic motivation because students who are allowed to do things how/when they want will be more motivated to actually do them, and they will enjoy the activity more. When the teacher gives students directions to read a certain book about animals, they would see it as just an assignment that needed to be completed. On the other hand, if students were told to choose any book about animals on their own, they would be more inclined to enjoy the story since they chose it and had more control of their learning. If students are more interested in the material they are learning, they will be more motivated to learn it.
Ashley's description of intrinsic motivation with the story was very interesting to read. I completely agree that if a student is able to choose the material that they are asked to learn about it, and the teacher gives them the control in a sense to complete the activity, the student will be more inclined to learn, and motivated to understand the material. I feel as if an increase in student control in choosing projects, and choosing the material from the broad topic would allow for a student to feel more control in their learning outcome. I think that this will help a student be more intrinsically motivated, and will increase their want to learn.
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