Students are motivated to the extent that they initiate and sustain meaningful involvement in learning. Theories of motivation suggest that appropriate attention to college students' needs and expectations for success will enhance their involvement and learning. (Author/MSE)

A number of surveys conducted in Wyoming and discussions with 16 adult basic education students determined barriers to and motivation for participation. Results indicate the need for more positive publicity emphasizing socially acceptable reasons for attending; recruitment through support groups; attention to such barriers as child care, funding,…

Interviews with "Shin Nisei," new second-generation Japanese, university students reveal how strongly motivation influences persistence in taking Japanese courses and the intensity with which these students use Japanese outside the classroom. The discussion stresses problems facing Shin Nisei students in traditional college foreign-language…

A study examined the relative effects of course and program on 39 college students' motivation over a semester-long introductory physics course, a discipline chosen because of its emphasis on higher-order learning. Results include information about student learning motives, changes over time, and student emphasis on different learning goals and…

Indicates how new theorizing on the body can be brought to bear on pedagogical work. Argues that a teacher's body needs to be remembered in writing about teaching and learning because it produces desire in pedagogical events. Shows ways that work on corporeality counters mainstream writing about students and teachers. (DSK)

Presents the hypothesis that drama positively affects second language students by providing spontaneity and motivation. To test the hypothesis, the function of drama in language teaching is explored as well as the technique used to teach English through drama. (Author/VWL)

Reports on the social relations of rural African American early adolescents and the initial impact of a multilevel intervention program aimed at enhancing the productive school engagement of at-risk youth. Students' school social relations and risk status were used in assessment. Four subgroups were identified: Model, Aggressive, Troubled, and…

Presents the design, national standardization, and validation of the Preschool Learning Behaviors Scale. A normative sample (N = 100) of preschoolers yielded distinct and reliable dimensions of Competence Motivation, Attention/Persistence, and Attitude Toward Learning. Correlations demonstrated validity convergence with indices of social skills,…

Identifies and describes the psychological parameters of middle school students' social and work avoidance goals. Describes in detail the structure of students' work avoidance, social affiliation, social responsibility, and social concern goals. Results suggest that a range of social goal orientations are important and adaptive to students'…

The current perspective of autonomous learning defines it as the agentive exhibition of resourcefulness, initiative, and persistence in self-directed learning. As a form of human agency, it has been argued in the literature that this perspective should be consistent with Bandura's (1986) Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). The purpose of this article…

This article describes some of the conclusions reached from an experiment using portfolios for art external assessment at the end of secondary education (age 17+) conducted in five Portuguese schools in 2001-2003. Several positive outcomes were found. Students found portfolios to be motivating and fostering constructive learning, dialogue and…

A general model for motivational design of instruction is described and reviewed in terms of its application to E-learning contexts. Following a description of what is meant by E-learning environments and an overview of the four category model and design process known as the ARCS model, a variety of studies are summarized. The ARCS model is based…

Research on animated pedagogical agents (agents) is viewed as a very positive attempt to introduce more pedagogical support and motivational elements into multi-media instruction. Yet, existing empirical studies that examine the learning benefits of agents have had very mixed results, largely due to the way that they are designed. This article…

Teachers often play a mistaken notion of lecturing their students about the importance of the past rather than allowing students to discover for themselves the significance of past events. In this article, the author talks about the "detective" strategy he used which strengthens the critical thinking and analyzing skills of his students in their…

Understanding student motivation, why it breaks down, and how it can be supported or enhanced, is critical to good teaching. Following recent research discoveries, eagerness to learn is now viewed as an inherent capacity in all students when they have a positive view of themselves and a supportive learning environment. In this brief article, the…