Motivation

What influence does motivation have on the course of behavior and learning?

What is the relationship between affect and behavior? How is that usually seen in educational settings?

Be able to describe the basic principles of each of the following motivational theories, recognize or give an example of it in real life, and use it in an instructional design task:

Non-cognitive theories (based on drives or needs)

Behavior theory

Drive theory

Cognitive consistency theory (and cognitive dissonance)

Needs theories (affiliation, approval and achievement)

Maslow’s hierarchy

Self-worth theory

Cognitive theories (based on interpretation by learner)

Expectancy/Value theory

Attribution theory

Explanatory style (mastery vs learned helplessness)

Goal and goal orientation theory (learning vs performance goals)

Self-determination theory (threats to self-determination)

Intrinsic motivation

Internalized motivation

How can we help learners develop appropriate attribution and cognitions about motivation?

How can we help at risk learners make the connection between their behavior and the outcomes (the Links to Success model from the Alderman reading)?

Behavior Theory

What are the differences between classical and operant conditioning paradigms in terms of the basic mechanism of learning and the ways to increase and decrease a behavior under each paradigm?

Where in everyday situations and in classroom situations does classical conditioning play a role?

What kinds of things can serve as positive reinforcers for different levels of students and different purposes?

What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement and punishment?

Don’t spend time on the concept of schedules of reinforcement (pages 51-56 in the text).

How does stimulus control operate in both classical and operant conditioning?

Where in instruction has operant conditioning had an influence? This is discussed in chapter 5 and will not get extensive coverage in class so you’ll have to study it in detail on your own. You be able to describe:

instructional objectives

the relationship of programmed instruction to computer assisted instruction

Mastery learning and PSI

Token economies

How do behavior theorists respond to criticisms of reinforcement?

Recognize that negative reinforcement and escape are the same concept. Be able to differentiate escape from avoidance learning.

What are the arguments against using punishment?

How can punishment be used most effectively?