Motivation in WBL Environments: a ‘winning’ approach

1. Motivationin WBL Environments:a ‘winning’ approach Greg Warman EDUC391X Professor Paul Kim

2. Why is motivation critical? • There is a crisis in WBL • Dropout rates can be as high as 70% to 80% (Martinez 2003) • Resultant negative impressions of WBL and its potential • Keeping learners engaged is critical • Motivation most important characteristic related to achievement in WBL (Sankaran and Bui 2001) • Understanding motivation (what underlies a learner’s willingness to participate in learning) will help with the creation of corrective solutions

3. Motivation General survey of definitions indicate: Motivation = ƒ { Incentives / Disincentives, Individual Goals & Objectives }

4. Views of Motivation • EmpiricalView (e.g. Skinner) • Extrinsic (incentives / disincentives) • Rewards & punishments affect an individual’s tendency to respond in the way necessary for learning to occur • Cognitive View (e.g. Piaget) • Intrinsic (goals & objectives) • Individual interest in a domain of cognitive activity drive learning

5. Empirical • Effectiveness of incentives nonetheless derives from individual goals & objectives • Biological in nature: goals reflect what is necessary for surviving and thriving • Performance approach - desire to outdo others and avoid appearance of inferiority

6. Cognitive • Learning motivation is a result of need to reconcile differences in our understanding of the world. • Mastery approach - desire to learn and understand and avoid misunderstanding

7. Academic Thunderdome two theories enter, one theory leaves

8. Academic Thunderdome • Cognitive view (e.g. Lemper et al.) • Research demonstrates that if people are rewarded for things they would choose to do for intrinsic reasons, they will no longer be willing to do them without the rewards • Empiricist view (e.g. Cameron et al.) • Meta analysis of research shows that with very few exceptions extrinsic motivators do not interfere with intrinsic motivation

9. Reconciliation = Avatars real me virtual me real world virtual world

10. Reconciliation = Avatars • Your representative in a virtual world • Games: World of Warcraft, Never Winter KnightsVirtual Worlds: Second Life • Market size: e.g. Everquest by SONY • Can Leverage both Extrinsic and Intrinsic motivators to maximize learning

11. What defines a Virtual World Overarching Goal Incentives for reaching goal Storyline & Challenges Development dimensions Means of development & tools to surmount challenges

12. Proposed Approach me virtual me one world where virtual me becomes proxy for my real learning

13. Proposed Approach Overarching module A B C D E F G H I Topic-focused learning modules

14. How does the Overarching module work? real me real world

15. By reflecting my real world motivation Goal Incentives Storyline & Challenges Development Means real me real world

16. Example: EDUC391XIndividual Projects Enteran active business environmentwith your virtual character… Select your character Name: Greg Warman Moniker: geek391 SUBMIT

17. Example: EDUC391XIndividual Projects • Overarching Goal: beat your competitors and win WBL contracts • Incentives: • Explicit: • Contracts provide $$$ = your score • Implicit: • Bragging rights and avoid humiliation (Performance) • Satisfaction of building your character (Mastery) =

18. Example: EDUC391XIndividual Projects Storyline: You’re fresh out of undergrad and want to explore a career in WBT. You need to build a knowledge base quickly of WBL design that evidences your worth to buyers. Challenges: • Multiple contracts but multiple competitors • ‘Winning’ is a two step process • Need to qualify and respond to an RFP (requires base level of knowledge) • Need to succeed in the job interview (requires displaying that knowledge)

19. Example: EDUC391XIndividual Projects Step 1: Qualify and respond to RFP’s WBL ContractBRIDGE CO. Project:Build an e-learning course to ensure bridge staff meet safety requirements.Value: $10,000 Requirements:Design Theory = +2Inst. Design = +2Tech Know = +1 STATUS: Won! STATUS:Lost :-( APPLY X

20. Example: EDUC391XIndividual Projects Step 2: Succeed in Job Interview How would you go about designing our e-learning course?Select the appropriate responses below:Given it is regarding safety protocol, it is A knowledge we need to build. Therefore we start with B and then move on to C . BRIDGE CO. = $10,000 A. Cognitive, Psychomotor, AffectiveB. Receiving, Knowledge, PerceptionC. Set, Application, Valuing SUBMIT

21. Example: EDUC391XIndividual Projects Development Dimensions: Design Theory: +3 Instructional Design: +5 Tech Knowledge: +2 Contracts won to date: 0Cash Available: $5,500 Geek391

22. Example: EDUC391XIndividual Projects • Means for Development: • Learning modules on individual 391X topics • Must pay to enter these learning modules • Must pass whatever assessment exists in the learning module to earn development credits • Form networks with others to bid on contracts • Leverage each other’s knowledge • Learn from one another

23. Avatars & Motivation • Empirical: (Extrinsic Motivators) • Surmount game challenge • Beat your competitors (performance) • Cognitive: (Intrinsic Motivators) • Proxy for personal development where intangible gains become tangible. Moreover these gains arrive quickly! • Enjoy character building (mastery)

24. Avatars & Thunderdome • Extrinsic rewards (the contract game component) can be removed and the Intrinsic rewards (the character development component) will still ensure motivation. Therefore, two theories enter, both leave as friends!

25. Other Applications