E-Learning: What Is Motivation - Literature review Example

? E-learning: Literature Review What is motivation? According to Robbin’s, motivation can be defined as “…the process that account for an individual’s intensity, direction, and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal. Although general motivation is concerned with effort toward any goal....” (Robbins et.al, 2010 p.71) The elements which are stressed in this definition are intensity, direction and persistence. Intensity element is the most important of the three elements and gets the maximum focus as it is concerned about the extent how much an individual tries to achieve something. But the fact is high intensity is not the only thing which can lead to increase the performance. So, along with high intensity another element is needed that is to channelize the intensity of effort in a direction which will be benefitting for an individual. An individual should have perfect blend of quality effort and intensity for achieving his or her goals. The persistence element of motivation definition also acts significantly as it acts as a measure of how long an individual can maintain his or her effort (Robbins, 2010, pp.71-72). According to Schiffman et. al. (n.d.,) motivation can be defined as the key driver for a person to act in a certain way. It is produced from a state of tension to satisfy an unfulfilled need. This helps in reduction of tension consciously or subconsciously. Motivation leads individuals to different types of behavior pattern; those are mainly of two types, firstly the positive motivation which generates a driving force towards achieving an object or goal and the other is negative motivation which drives away the individual to avoid the goal or objective to be achieved (Schiffman, et.al., n.d.). SDT or Self-Determination theory distinguished many motivation based theories on the action which rise from different reasons and goals. From SDT it is can be stated that the basic difference of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is, in the former situation the work is enjoyable or inherently interesting. While, the later is doing a work which will lead to a separable outcome. Whereas, extrinsic motivation is characterized as impoverished and pale version in contrast to intrinsic motivation in the classic literature. However, there are various types of extrinsic motivation and SDT proposes though there are many weaknesses in it some of the forms are highly active. But further research outcomes mentioned intrinsic motivation has emerged as a significant phenomenon in education as it results in high-quality learning and catalyzes out-of-the-box or creative thinking (Ryan & Deci, 2000, pp.55). During E-learning motivation plays a very important role and both kind of motivation i.e. intrinsic and extrinsic plays its part. During E-learning the intrinsic motivation enables a student to engage in it due to his or her curiosity, enjoyment for achievement of intellectual goals which comes from within the student. The factors which motivate them are learners can study anywhere if they have access to internet, option to select learning materials according to choice of students, successful completion incorporates self-reliance and it develops computer skill which will help him or her in other facets of life. The extrinsic motivational factors for E-learning are convenience in scheduling the classes in between personal and professional work, no traveling to school helps in saving time and cost. The main difference between intrinsically motivated and extrinsically motivated is in intrinsically motivated students seeks competence and aroused due to the challenge during learning, whereas extrinsically motivated students learns out of compulsion or external influence. (Prinz, 2007, pp.10-13) Design for motivation: Motivation is a process that induces people to act or behave in a certain way. Unsatisfied needs, wants and desires create tension in the human mind which acts as key driver. The main human needs are biogenic and psychogenic needs. Biogenic needs are innate and considered to be the basic requirements or motives. On the other hand, psychogenic needs are acquired and considered to be the secondary requirements or motives (Schiffman et. al., n.d.) These needs can be utilitarian i.e. to achieve something functional and hedonic i.e. emotional responses. Another thing which is important in motivation process is drive. It is the degree of arousal in between the present state of an individual’s psychological state with the ideal state. (Oliveira, n.d. pp.1-2) In this paper it is evident that the motivation here is purely related to psychogenic need as it is related to learning. But it is very hard to distinguish if it is a utilitarian or hedonic need. So, here a specific design is needed for motivating the e-learners are very much necessary. This can be achieved through a metacognitive process. Metacognitive process means awareness, monitoring and evaluating an individual’s own mental process (Prinz, 2007, p.16). Metacognitive Process to motivate e-Learners Step-1 Self Awareness Control beliefs Outcome of an effort can be controlled by an individual Self-efficacy It is about believing about the ability one can succeed in a task. Step-2 Self Regulation Monitoring Progress Awareness of the success of the process Appraisal of actions Belief of controlling an individual’s outcome Appraisals of outcomes After completion the students belief about reaching goal and evaluating themselves. (Prinz, 2007, pp.17-20) What is Blackboard? Blackboard is a collection of course and its delivery through web. The educators of University of British Columbia developed the idea of Blackboard. This concept was very significant as it also allowed other educators to develop a web-based environment for learning without much technical expertise, resources and wasting time. It also allows students to participate in the online classes by internet. It also acts as distance online learning setup as well as acts as supplement to courses which are lecture based. (What is Blackboard, n.d.) Advantages and disadvantages of Blackboard: The benefits of E-learning are it enables an individual to eliminate time and distance. It is cost-effective and it always offers updated knowledge relevant to the current business environment. It helps to access expert from different countries and enables to provide lifelong learning process to individual. It helps in self pacing of the learning process and enables a student to have more interactive sessions. But it has certain disadvantages also those are some times the instructors are not enough competent to teach through electronic media. The purchase and maintenance of media tools for supporting the process needs additional funding. There is absence of face-face interactions and campus life. Computer literacy is must and maintenance, updating and protection of the e-learning materials cause some practical difficulties. Assessment and retention of students are also some factors to work upon. (Turban, 2010, pp.338-339) References 1. Robbins, P. S. Judge, A.T. & Sanghi, S. (2010), Essentials of Organizational Behavior 10/E, New Delhi: Pearson Education India 2. Ryan, M. R. & Deci, L. E. (2000), Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions and New Directions Available at: http://www.psych.rochester.edu/SDT/documents/2000_RyanDeci_IntExtDefs.pdf (accessed on August 2, 2011) 3. Oliveira, A. (n.d.), The Motivational process, Available at : http://www.sam.sdu.dk/~amo/ppt/capit4.pdf (accessed on August 2, 2011) 4. Prinz, P. (2007), Motivation and Learning, Available at: http://www.about-elearning.com/e-learning-advantages-and-disadvantages.html (accessed on August 2, 2011) 5. e-Learning Advantage and Disadvantages (n.d.), Available at: http://www.americanembassy.org.cy/SummerInst07/Prinz-MotivationAndLearning.pdf (accessed on August 2, 2011) 6. What is Blackboard (n.d.), Lamar University, Available at: http://dept.lamar.edu/generalstudies/gs2/dl_blackboard.html (accessed on August 2, 2011) 7. Turban, E. (2010), Electronic Commerce: A Managerial Perspective 4/E, Delhi: Pearson Education India 8. Schiffman, Kanuk & Das: Motivation and Involvement, Available at: wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/2261/2315489/schiff_cb_ce_03.ppt (accessed on August 2, 2011) Read More