Motivating Online Students Through Effective Instructional Design

Book excerpt: Motivation is a critical component in learning and achievement, as well as a driving force that pushes individuals to pursue and achieve their goals. In an educational context, motivation can be understood as the desire and action toward goal-oriented behavior, which can be either an intrinsic or extrinsic goal or both. Proper motivation causes a student to act in a positive manner, whether it be completing course work, exercising to get fit, or working towards career goals. Understanding and connecting this motivation can significantly enhance a learner's engagement and success in learning. Motivating Online Students Through Effective Instructional Design examines where educators can leverage an understanding of student motivation to inform the design of instruction. By considering students' needs, interests, and goals, instructional designers can create learning experiences that are engaging, relevant, and meaningful. In turn, this can enhance motivation and lead to improved learning outcomes. So, both motivation and instructional design play crucial roles in the educational process. Understanding these concepts and how they interact can help educators, academics, and policymakers create compelling and engaging learning experiences.