According to self-determination theory, a theory developed by Deci and Ryan, three basic psychological needs affect motivation: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Susan Epps, associate professor of Allied Health Sciences, and Alison Barton, associate professor of Teaching and Learning, both at East Tennessee State University, have used this theory to develop ways to improve online learner motivation.
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"Creating a sense of autonomy helps students make choices that emphasize what they value, which can increase the subjective value of the learning—the sense that the learning is relevant to one’s life, Barton says.
Here are some ways to offer students choices:
- Content—Barton has her students, who are preservice teachers, facilitate online discussions about lesson plans that each student develops. Each student gets to decide what the lesson will be, which content from the module to include, and which theories to demonstrate. “That, I hope, makes it more of a motivating experience for them because they’re writing a lesson about something they want to write about,” Barton says.
- Format—In some instances Epps gives her students choices on assignment format such as a paper or a narrated PowerPoint presentation. “When they feel they’re choosing something that is relevant to them, they actually do better work,” Epps says.
- Grade weighting—In the past, Barton has offered students options on how much various assignments, quizzes, and tests will count toward the final grade. “If they’re not great test takers, you may offer them an option where their assignments or final projects are given more weight,” she says."
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