Negative motivation, such as threats and reproof, should be avoided with all but the arrogant or impulsive student. At times, in spite of the instructor's efforts, the learning rate may be retarded by a slump in motivation. When this occurs, instructors should examine their own conduct and try to find the cause for the slump.
1.5.4 LEVELS OF LEARNING
Learning may be accomplished at any of several levels. The lowest level, rote learning, is the ability to repeat back something which one has been taught, without understanding or being able to apply what has been learned. Progressively higher levels of learning are understanding what has been taught, achieving the skill to apply what has been learned and to perform correctly, and associating and correlating what has been learned with other things previously learned or subsequently encountered. Correlation is the highest level of learning, and should be the objective of all instruction. It is the level at which the student becomes able to associate an element which has been learned with other segments or "blocks" of learning or accomplishment. The other segments may be items or skills previously learned, or new learning tasks to be undertaken in the future.