2025 SC Education + Business Summit

Relevance:
Motivation is highly relevant to Career and Technical Education (CTE) because it directly influences student engagement, skill development, and career readiness. CTE programs prepare students for real-world careers by combining academic knowledge with hands-on, technical skills. To succeed in these programs, students must be motivated to learn complex skills, persist through challenges, and apply their knowledge in practical settings. Understanding motivation helps CTE educators design instruction that fosters both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, ensuring students see the value and relevance of their education in achieving future career goals.

Value:
Educators need to understand the science of motivation because it directly impacts student engagement, learning, and achievement. Motivation influences how students approach challenges, persist through difficulties, and take ownership of their learning. Research in educational psychology highlights the importance of intrinsic motivation—driven by curiosity and personal interest—over extrinsic motivation, such as rewards or punishments. When teachers understand the science of motivation, they can create environments that foster deeper, more sustained motivation.

Presenter knowledge & experience:
Tammy Pawloski has led more than 2500 professional learning events for teachers, school leaders, and stakeholders. She understands the challenges and opportunities of teaching, and has devoted the last 25 years to the study of children of poverty—why they struggle and which strategies have the greatest impact. She holds the Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina, and serves as Director of the Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty at Francis Marion University. Pawloski is a noted expert because of her breadth of knowledge, however what resonates most with teachers and school leaders is her ability to deliver an uncommon combination of research, practice, and compelling stories from the field that both empower and challenge.