Motivation of students as a factor in the formation of a future specialist and ways to improve it

In psychological and pedagogical science and practice, special attention is paid to the motivation of learning activities, as it affects the quality of learning activities. The predominance of external, utilitarian motives among modern youth leads to the fact that learning becomes formal, there is no creative approach, no independent setting of learning goals. It is known that a negative or indifferent attitude to learning can be the reason for a student's poor performance or failure. The article considers professional self-consciousness as an independent psychological and acmeological category, as a developing system, as a personal formation inherent in a particular subject of activity. The manifestation of professional self-consciousness is personal qualities that are refracted through professional knowledge and demonstrated in the situation of professional life. The defining component of the organization of learning activities is motivation. The main factors that influence the formation of positive motivation for learning activities are: the content of the educational material, the organization of learning activities, collective forms of learning activities, assessment of learning activities and the style of pedagogical activity of the teacher. Cognitive activity is the leading sphere of human life. Hence, the cognitive motive is formed - the main factor in the success of cognitive activity, through which the natural human need for development is realized. The groups of cognitive activity motives are analyzed. The study of motivation for professional activity examines the relationship between professional skills and various factors, among which the needs of the individual, the level of achievement motivation and the social prestige of the activity are particularly emphasized. Thus, prestige positively correlates with high motivation (including achievement rather than avoidance of failure), self-esteem, confidence in the future, and the importance of the activity and its results. Activities are never motivated by only one motive. It matters which motive is the main, determining, and which is secondary. The main motive in students' learning activities should be educational and cognitive interest. Only then will learning activities be effective.