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Abstract

Given today's remarkable changing student population to include adult learners in most of higher education institutions and programs, it is critical question how to motivate them to fully be absorbed in learning process. Since an on-line learning setting has many differences from a classroom setting, motivational strategies in on-line learning also have to be developed systematically based on adult learner characteristics. This presentation will provide the required steps and necessary information for motivational design process in on-line learning setting based on Keller¡'s ARCS motivation model, and also share the example of actual case.

Description

On-line learning has been highlighted as a new delivery system for distance learning in higher education as it can provide students who are dispersed across the nation with a wealth of interaction and richest learning experiences (Reiser, 2002). Especially, in academic on-line course, universities are now integrating web technology such as black board or WebCT to offer on-line learning opportunity ranging from those providing on-line enhanced courses to those managing on-line degree programs. Along with this, how to support students to actively participate in on-line learning has also been an issue in the field. Especially, given the increasing portion of adult learners in higher education institution, motivational strategies also need to be designed and developed with consideration of adult learner characteristics. Since most adult learners have a great deal of prior experience to the workplace, they are different from general students who don't have any field experience. Keller¡'s motivational design process based on his ARCS model has been widely used to design highly motivated learning environment. Keller¡'s motivation design process consists of seven steps, which are collecting course information, collecting audience information, audience analysis, existing materials analysis, defining objectives and assessment, preliminary design, and final design. Each step has its own objectives and description on how to approach the motivational design process. For instance, instructor or/and instructional designer can record required information by responding to a constructed questionnaire for each step. In this presentation, the motivational design process will be described in detail based on adult learner's characteristics and the example of finalized motivational strategies will be provided with actual case.