Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

After reading Norman Kunc's article (1992), The Need to Belong: Rediscovering Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs, I felt compelled to blog. Before undertaking this course, I had a general idea of Maslow's theory and the concepts it entailed, but thought it not particularly relevant to education. However after reading this article, it seems there is such an obvious link... no wonder students do not embrace and engage in the school community, it is a place where basic human needs are not met and they are forced to seek fulfillment of these needs elsewhere. It seems such an obvious farce that the very foundations on which educational philosophy are based are essentially an inversion of Maslow's hierarchy.

Kunc's ideas tie in with the ideas of active learning in that group work and peer support are focuses of active learning, and within this format, children are more likely to associate themselves as being part of a team, as belonging and contributing to the group. In this way their need to 'belong ' is fulfilled and learning/achieving will come more easily.

Similarly Kunc's concept links with the idea of learner diversity and the separation of those students considered to have disabilities from main stream schooling. When this occurs, the students feel disconnected and the feeling of belonging that is such a fundamental human need is taken away, and with it the motivation to achieve and learn. Instead, if we are to recognise the special gifts and talents within every student first and foremost, regardless of their ability, they will feel appreciated, supported and loved within the school community, becoming known for the things they can contribute rather than the things they cannot. In this way they too feel as if they belong to the school community and will there by seek to accomplish the next hierarchical need of achievement and self actualisation.

At the same time the students who are achieving in the main stream format begin to notice that acceptance does not come as a result of achievement but is given freely for simply being an individual. Belonging is the motivator not the motivation for achievement.

This concept also relates to the Dimensions Of Learning: Dimension One, specifically Positive Attitudes and Perceptions regarding the classroom environment. Marzano and Pickering (1997) assert that if students feel accepted by teachers and peers and experience a sense of comfort and order, positive outcomes will result.

References
Marzano & Pickering, 1997. Dimensions of Learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Kunc, N. (1992). The Need to Belong: Rediscovering Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishers.