Learn 11 DLA:
Motivation (MOT)
If at any time, you have questions about how to complete any part of this DLA,
email them to: mdsc@lbcc.edu
The purpose of this DLA is to help you to develop an understanding of motivation including how motivation
affects student success; how our thoughts and feelings are associated with motivation; and how motivation is
related to goals.
After completing this activity, you should be able to:
 Develop and analyze your own personal goals.
 Learn how self-efficacy and attribution beliefs affect motivation.
 Distinguish between internal and external motivation.
Instructions for navigating through the LASSI module website to complete this DLA:
 Go To: Click on the blue link on the left side of the page.
 Read: Read the text in the center of the page.
 Write: This is a writing assignment. Do all writing on this sheet unless instructed to do
something else.
 Only click on “Next” when directed by the DLA
To begin this DLA module, click on MOTIVATION from the menu on the main page.
Please note that you will be using the LASSI modules site (www.lassimodules.com) to access readings but
you will write responses to all your Exercises on this DLA. You will not need to type in the LASSI module
at all, but instead only read online and write directly on this DLA handout. It is important that you follow
the instructions on this DLA since it will guide you through which parts of the module to read.
Exercise #1: Answer the questions below before you begin reading in the online LASSI module.
1. What do you know about being highly motivated toward college?
2. What do you hope to learn through completing this DLA?
Introduction
Go To: Students With High Motivation
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Read: Characteristics Of Students With High Motivation. Do not read the last paragraph.
Go To: Learning From Research
Read: What Research Tells Us About Students With High Motivation Toward College
Go To: Learning From Research
Read: What Research Tells Us About Students With Low Motivation Toward College
Exercise #2: Of the characteristics of students with both high and low motivation you just read about, write
three (3) that you identify with.
1.
2.
3.
What is Motivation?
Go To: Questions To Guide Your Thinking
Read: Questions To Guide You In Thinking About Motivation
Go To: Understanding Motivation
Read: Why Understanding Motivation Is Important
Exercise #3: Write your responses to the questions below:
1. Have you ever not done something that you really wanted to do because you thought you couldn’t do
it? What was it?
2. Is there a subject that is just not good for you? What is it?
3. If you were told that you would receive a car of your choice if you got an “A” in a class in the subject
you identified in Question #2, do you think that you could get an A? What would you do differently
in your efforts to get the “A”?
Go To: Important Points About Motivation
Read: Points to Remember About Motivation
Do not complete Activities in the modules. The module will not save or print.
Type your responses to Exercises on the word document version of the DLA provided to you on the
MDSC online website.
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Exercise #4: Refer to your answers on the previous page. For each answer you gave, describe at least two of
the thoughts, beliefs, or emotions you had when writing that response.
1. Question #1 (above): My thoughts, beliefs, and emotions when answering this question were:
2. Question #2 (above): My thoughts, beliefs, and emotions when answering this question were:
3. Question #3 (above): My thoughts, beliefs, and emotions when answering this question were:
Analyzing Motivation and Goals
Go To and Read: Analyzing Motivation
Go To and Read: Goals
Use the Goals Worksheet on the next page for Exercises 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Write your goals on
the next page on the
GOALS
WORKSHEET
Exercise #5:
As you read the online module sections below, ignore the reference to Activity #5. You did not complete this
activity.
Go To: Personal Goals (Activity #6) and Read: Personal Goals. Do not complete Activity #6 online. Read
material only.
Write 1 personal goal for yourself on the Goals Worksheet.
Go To: Academic Goals (Activity #7) and Read: Academic Goals. Do not complete Activity #7 online. Read
material only.
Write 1 academic goal for yourself on the Goals Worksheet.
Go To: Social Goals (Activity #8) and Read: Social Goals. Do not complete Activity #8 online. Read
material only.
Write 1 social goal for yourself on the Goals Worksheet
Go To: Occupational/Professional Goals (Activity #9) and Read: Occupational/Professional Goals. Do not
complete Activity #9 online. Read material only.
Write 1 occupational/professional goal for yourself on the Goals Worksheet.
Useful Goal Characteristics
Go To and Read: Characteristics Of Goals
Do not complete Activities in the modules. The module will not save or print.
Type your responses to Exercises on the word document version of the DLA provided to you on the
MDSC online website.
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Go To and Read: Specific And Measurable Goals
Exercise #6: Write: Add a characteristic to each of your goals to make them specific and measurable.
Go To and Read: Challenging And Realistic Goals. Read both sections labeled as such.
Exercise #7: Write: Add a characteristic to each of your goals to make them challenging and realistic.
Go To and Read: Start And Completion Times For Your Goals. Read both sections labeled as such.
Exercise #8: Write: Add a start and completion time for each of your goals.
Complete Exercise #9 and Exercise #10 within the Goals Worksheet.
Do not complete Activities in the modules. The module will not save or print.
Type your responses to Exercises on the word document version of the DLA provided to you on the
MDSC online website.
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Goals Worksheet
(Use for exercises: 5,6,7,8, 9, and 10)
Basic academic goal:
Specific and measurable goal:
Challenging and realistic goal:
Start and completion dates and
times:
Revised academic goal:
Example of revising a goal
Finish my education.
Transfer to a four-year university and complete a bachelor’s degree in
Spanish.
Transfer to a four-year university within the next six semesters.
Transfer to a four-year university by Fall 2012 and complete a
bachelor’s degree in Spanish by May 2014.
I aim to transfer to a four-year university by Fall 2012 and complete a
bachelor’s degree in Spanish by May 2014
Exercise #9: Rewrite each goal below, incorporating the three new characteristics (specific and measureable,
realistic and challenging, start and completion time) into it. These are your revised goals.
Personal goal ______________________________________________________________________

Specific and measurable characteristic _______________________________________________

Realistic and challenging characteristic _______________________________________________

Start and completion time __________________________________________________________
Revised personal goal _____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Academic goal _________________________________________________________________________

Specific and measurable characteristic _______________________________________________

Realistic and challenging characteristic _______________________________________________

Start and completion time __________________________________________________________
Revised academic goal ____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Social goal _____________________________________________________________________________

Specific and measurable characteristic _______________________________________________

Realistic and challenging characteristic _______________________________________________

Start and completion time __________________________________________________________
Revised social goal ___________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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Occupational/professional goal ____________________________________________________________

Specific and measurable characteristic ________________________________________________

Realistic and challenging characteristic _______________________________________________

Start and completion time __________________________________________________________
Revised Occupational/professional goal
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Exercise #10: You will now write 1 new (different) goal of each type, incorporating each of the 3
characteristics. That is, each goal you write below should:



Be specific and measureable
Be realistic and challenging
Have a start and completion time
New Personal goal:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
New Academic goal:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
New Social goal:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
New Occupational/professional goal
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
You may wish to keep these goals for future reference 
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Developing Useful Goals
Go To and Read: Short-term And Long-term Goals
Go To and Read: Revising Your Goals
Exercise #11: In reviewing your two academic goals on the previous page, make sure at least one is a longterm goal. If you are missing a long-term goal write a new long-term academic goal. Then for the long-term
goal, write two enabling goals.
My long-term academic goal is:
My two enabling goals (for my long-term academic goal) are:
Go To and Read: Analyzing Your Goals
Exercise #12: Go back to your goals on the previous page. Analyze your goals for conflict and commitment.
In cases of goal conflict, keep the goal you really want and delete the other. Delete any goals for which there
is no evidence that you are committed to achieving them.
Go To: Your Personal Needs Hierarchy (Activity #13)
Read: Creating Your Own Personal Needs Hierarchy. Do not complete Activity #13 online. Read material
only.
Go To: Improving Goals and Motivation
Read: Suggestions For Improving Your Motivation By Working On Your Goals
Self-Efficacy
Go To: Self-Efficacy Beliefs (Activity #15)
Read: Self-Efficacy Beliefs. Do not complete Activity #15. Read material only. Answer the Exercise below.
Exercise #13: Write two situations in which you feel fairly confident about succeeding.
I feel fairly confident about succeeding when…
1.
2.
Write two situations in which you feel less confident about succeeding.
I feel less confident about succeeding when…
1.
2.
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Go To: Understanding Self-Efficacy
Read: Self-Efficacy Understandings
Go To: Increasing Self-Efficacy
Read: Suggestions For Building Higher Self-Efficacy Beliefs
Exercise #14: What is the most important thing you have learned about self-efficacy?
Attributions
Go To: Attribution Beliefs (Activity #16)
Read: Attribution Beliefs. Do not answer Activity #16 online. Read material only. Answer the Exercise
below.
Exercise #15: Write two factors that you believe contribute to your successes.
1.
2.
Write two factors that you might blame for your failures.
1.
2.
Go To and Read: Blaming Uncontrollable Factors
Go To and Read: Blaming Controllable Factors
Go To: Improving Your Attribution Beliefs
Read: Suggestions For Improving Your Attribution Beliefs
Exercise #16: What is the most important thing you learned about attributions?
Internal and External Motivation
Go To: Internal And External Motivation (Activity #17)
Read: Internal And External Motivation. Do not complete Activity #17 online. Read material only. Answer
Exercise #17 below and on the next page.
Exercise # 17: Write three tasks you do because you want to do them:
1.
Do not complete Activities in the modules. The module will not save or print.
Type your responses to Exercises on the word document version of the DLA provided to you on the
MDSC online website.
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2.
3.
Write three tasks you do because someone else wants you to do them or rewards you for doing them:
1.
2.
3.
Go To and Read: Your Reasons For Going To College
Exercise # 18: List at least three of your reasons for going to college.
1.
2.
3.
Go To and Read: What Is External Motivation?
Go To and Read: What Is Internal Motivation?
Go To: Improving Internal Motivation
Read: Suggestions For Improving Internal Your Motivation
Summary
Go To: Good/Bad News For Motivation
Read: Summary Of The Motivation Module
Go To: Suggestions From Other Students
Read: Suggestions For Becoming A More Motivated Student
Exercise # 19: Answer the following questions.
1. What is the most important thing you learned about internal and external motivation?
2. What is the most useful thing you learned about motivation from this module?
Do not complete Activities in the modules. The module will not save or print.
Type your responses to Exercises on the word document version of the DLA provided to you on the
MDSC online website.
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Exercise #20: What are your plans for becoming a more motivated student? Now that you have completed
this activity, write one specific short-term goal that you plan to achieve within the next two weeks.
Remember to write a useful goal that is specific, realistic and has start and completion times.
Do not complete Activities in the modules. The module will not save or print.
Type your responses to Exercises on the word document version of the DLA provided to you on the
MDSC online website.
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Congratulations! You have completed part of your supplemental learning assignment and have learned about
how your attitudes can affect you as a student and how to create and revise goals. To receive credit for
completing this assignment, you will participate in an online follow-up session with a Center staff member.
Go to the “Follow-up Sessions” tab on the Multidisciplinary Student Success Center Online Supplemental
Learning Assistance site: http://webenhanced.lbcc.edu/mdssc/SLA/ to learn how to schedule your online
appointment with a Center staff member.
Do not complete Activities in the modules. The module will not save or print.
Type your responses to Exercises on the word document version of the DLA provided to you on the
MDSC online website.
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