Psychological theory, research, and principles of motivation
applied to instruction and achievement. Motivational constructs
are considered in formal and informal educational settings.
Motivation is studied through a cultural lens within a global
multicultural context with focus on race/ethnicity, gender, and
sexual orientation.
Athena Title
Motivational Foundations Educ
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EPSY 4061E, EPSY 4061H
Pre or Corequisite
Students must be enrolled in a professional program to register for this course
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will be knowledgeable of the basic theories and research in motivation.
Students will be familiar with the basic terminology used in motivation research and be able to use that terminology for effective interpretation of relevant documents and effective communication regarding psychology.
Students will be able to establish the reason a particular experiment would provide insight into a particular psychological process from a particular point of view.
Students will be able to identify the source of specific theoretical statements regarding motivation and be able to assess the importance of the statements for specific research programs.
Students will be able to assess the place of a particular development in the field and identify which theories it may impact.
Students will be able to interpret psychological phenomena from the various perspectives studied in the course.
Students will be able to explain how various motivational theories developed within specific historical contexts; critically evaluate various theories in relation to empirical research results.
Students will be able to develop and apply testable hypotheses based on a motivational theory for a research project, and communicate, orally and through written work, the results of their thinking and research.
Students will be able to work collaboratively with others to investigate specific applied problems related to human motivation.
Students will be able to describe motivation through a cultural lens within a global multicultural context with focus on race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation.
Topical Outline
1. Learner Motivation: The Instructor's Perspective
2. Establishing Your Learning Environment as a Community
3. Supporting Learners' Confidence as Learners
4. Rebuilding Discouraged Learners' Confidence to Learn
5. Providing Extrinsic Incentives
6. Connecting with Learners' Intrinsic Motivation
7. Stimulating Learners' Motivation to Learn
8. Socializing Uninterested or Alienated Learners
9. Adapting to Group and Individual Differences in Learners' Motivational Patterns
10. Looking Back and Ahead: Integrating Motivational Goals into Your Planning and Teaching
11. Examining the role of culture on motivation through a cultural lens with a focus on race/ethnicity, gender, and
sexual orientation
