This subtopic includes high level understanding about motivation as Intrinsic (driven by internal rewards such as curiosity or interest) or Extrinsic (driven by external rewards like grades or recognition). Balancing these forms of motivation is key to sustaining learner engagement.
- Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness: Self-Determination Theory (SDT) identifies these three core psychological needs as essential for fostering intrinsic motivation. Learning engineering teams apply SDT by creating experiences that allow learner choice (autonomy), provide constructive feedback (competence), and promote social connections (relatedness).
- Gamification and Rewards: Game elements, such as badges, progress bars, and rewards, tap into extrinsic motivation to sustain engagement. Learning engineering teams thoughtfully integrate gamification to maintain interest while ensuring it aligns with intrinsic learning goals.