Motivating the unmovable (revisited)

It was a subject of an issue I had during my first practicum that has since had some light shone on it:

During one of our lectures in Ed Psych, the class was learning of the concept called “self-efficacy”. It describes ones perceived abilities and ideas of what can be accomplished. I had brought up the idea of how much and better yet how to instill self-worth within and recognizing accomplishments of the individual students. This is something I felt was missing from my practicum experience.

The students were being given marks based on what they perceived they'd be able to accomplish. It seemed as if their was no personal progress. The students that got high marks ended up getting high marks. The students who were underachieving received marks that reflected this. And their was no complaining.

Near the end of the class, I asked the Ed Psych teacher if their was anything we can do, because it seemed as if by high school it was too late for that to change. The teacher responded by telling us its never too late, it all started when the environment for this personal growth is given to the student. That is my goal for the my next practicum placement; to help facilitate this type of change and praise the students' personal growth.