~ pupil in traditional classroom is mainly motivated by trying to avert negative events

The child at his desk, filling in his workbook, is behaving primarily to escape from the threat of a series of minor aversive events—the teacher’s displeasure, the criticism or ridicule of his classmates, an ignominious showing in a competition, low marks, a trip to the office ‘to be talked to’ by the principal, or a word to the parent who may still resort to the birch rod.”

📖 Teaching Machines — The History of Personalized Learning