The Role of Motivation and Engagement in Digital Learning: Toward a Learning Experience Design Model

Presented by Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures

A large body of research clearly indicates that when learners believe that information is interesting, valuable and intrinsically meaningful, they are more likely to learn the information, and to engage in behaviors related to those beliefs; in addition, when learners believe that they will be successful within an academic domain, they are more likely to achieve at high levels within that domain. Students’ motivation and engagement play important roles in influencing academic performance and success in both traditional and digital learning environments.

In this talk, Dr. Kui Xie, Ted and Lois Cyphert Distinguished Professor and Professor of Learning Technologies program in Department of Educational Studies at The Ohio State University, contextualizes the concepts of motivation and engagement in digital learning environments. Digital learning has enabled universities and colleges to extend learning opportunities to students who cannot attend traditional classes due to time or location constraints. Yet the physical isolation between students and teachers creates challenges for both, especially in communication. Student motivation often suffers and their engagement declines as a result of this isolation. More specifically, he addresses important questions, such as, what are types of motivation, what are the empirical evidence representing the different perspectives of engagement in digital learning, what are the research evidence showing the relationship between motivation, engagement, and performance in online classes and also in traditional classrooms? He summarizes several of my research projects and findings to support my responses to these questions and proposes design considerations to support motivation, engagement, and performance in digital learning, which will also have implications to traditional classrooms.

Speaker:

Dr. Kui Xie, Ted and Lois Cyphert Distinguished Professor and Professor of Learning Technologies program in Department of Educational Studies at The Ohio State University