The use of pedagogical agents (PAs) as learning tools within digital learning environments is rising. Previous research shows that PAs can aid learning across various domains and age groups, but their impact on learner motivation is unclear. As PAs become more integrated into learning systems, building an in-depth and theory-driven understanding…

Humane Composition Pedagogy (HCP) provides a pedagogical framework for reconciling the current disconnect between neoliberal higher education policies (sometimes called the "business model" of higher education) and the demand for kinder and more human-centered instruction. Humane education is a pedagogical model, with origins in…

Immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) is increasingly being used in education for its ability to recreate vivid, realistic environments that enhance engagement and motivation. In history education, iVR is often considered when fostering emotional connection and empathy. However, its potential to support critical historical thinking, such as analysing…

This dissertation addressed the issue of reduced transfer of training at a southeastern community college, specifically regarding the application of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies in online courses. Faculty at the college were required to complete a 45-hour training series on UDL, but evidence suggested that the training was not…

The international bestseller "How Do We Learn?" decodes years of cognitive science research into actionable strategies for K-12 teachers, curricula designers, and administrators. You'll discover how classic and emerging findings can transform pedagogy by pointing at practices that take advantage of the innate structures of the human…

The objective of this study is to be able to find ways or the best strategies in teaching that will motivate students to exert effort in their studies, considering the present conditions in this pandemic period. A quantitative method was used to define the study's objective, where two sections of Psychology students who took up Science 101 and…

This article explores how current legislation addresses adolescents' need for support in upper secondary school through school-home collaboration and introduces the framework of collaborative autonomy-support as the pivotal approach for analyses. Self-determination theory is used to describe adolescents' need for competence, relatedness and…

In "A Framework for K-12 Science Education," researchers call for teachers to make dramatic shifts in practice -- and sustain in these changes in practice -- so students can engage in rigorous and equitable three-dimensional science learning. Project-Based Learning (PBL) motivates students from diverse backgrounds to persist in learning.…

Most American classrooms employ a teacher-text-centered model of instruction that is misaligned with the developmental science of how children naturally learn. This article reviews that science and the origins of the common instructional model, including three modifications intended to make it work better (grades, age-graded classrooms, and…

Current motivation theory and research face serious theoretical, methodological, and practical challenges. One central challenge is the fact that research has focused mainly on motivation for traditional achievement tasks such as graded assignments and normative educational trajectories. Arguably, current motivation theory and research may be…

Laughing with students can help them connect on a deeper level with the teacher and the learning. This article offers the following four strategies to incorporate humor into teaching: (1) Integrate humorous bits to boost engagement; (2) Choose humorous materials; (3) Create interest with humorous web tools and apps; and (4) Teach with silly…

The ongoing transformation of learning and teaching is one facet of the progressing digitalization of all aspects of life. Gamification's aim is to change learning for the better by making use of the motivating effects of (digital) games and elements typical of games, like experience points, levelling, quests, rankings etc. Especially in the light…

Ongoing research shows that online teaching has become a popular source of learning at educational institutions. Evidence illustrates that many international students encounter challenges in their online classes. These difficulties are involved in communication with professors and peers, and their engagement with the coursework. This study extends…

Approximately 40 to 60 percent of America's high school students are chronically disengaged (i.e., inattentive, exert little to no effort, do not complete tasks, and claim to be bored; National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2004). Disengagement is so widespread that it has been labeled the "Silent Epidemic" (Bridgeland et…

Primary school practices are often bound by traditions that perpetuate compliance and skills-based, decontextualized, rote memorization activities. These histories of practice, prevalent in schools serving mostly Black and Brown children, make it inordinately difficult for students to author themselves as knowledge builders (i.e., with epistemic…