Enhancing Student Motivation through Self-Determination Theory:
Practical Applications for the Online Environment
Barton and Epps, ETSU
Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy
2/9/2013
List compiled from group work
Strategies to Enhance Autonomy:
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Choice of assignments/topics; multiple options for assignments/projects but with clear
expectations
Variety of ways to learn about topics (watch video, read, gather info from experts)
For assessment, choose own manner of presentation
Create universal rubric that assesses understanding, not for how they did it
Students wouldn’t necessarily have to work in groups (i.e., allow students to opt-out of
group work and work individually instead)
Have students help make the syllabus and class expectations
Moving discuss between students
Multiple non-graded quizzes (also builds confidence)
Use PBL (Problem based learning)
Give student the opportunity to contribute
Strategies to Increase Competence:
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Multiple non-graded quizzes
Use case studies
Video with reflection paper
Short quizzes
Creative final exam/project – submit in multiple stages for feedback
Use incremental and increasingly complex assignments
Begin with introduction of peers and how to access and use LMS (Blackboard, Moodle,
D2L)
Provide lots of feedback; use an electronic rubric to complete and return/upload to
students
Examples of assignments (A, B, C) with rubric
Set minimum requirements
Determine level of skills and areas they need to develop
Use a syllabus quiz in Week 1 for expectations (forces students to read the syllabus) and
follow up with early low-stakes assignments so they can succeed early on
Self-assessments before instruction, easy topics first so students succeed
Enhancing Student Motivation through Self-Determination Theory:
Practical Applications for the Online Environment
Barton and Epps, ETSU
Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy
2/9/2013
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Higher level courses: Week 1 writing assignment with lower points. This way they know
what the professor expects very quickly before the points go up
Provide a checklist of how-to steps for larger assignments (if possible/available, use
course website Checklist feature)
Offer a discussion forum just for asking questions about the course/assignments – make
sure to check and reply regularly
Strategies to Increase Relatedness:
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Provide multiple ways for students to contact you (phone, email)
Do a video introduction
Provide timely feedback
Let them know what’s going on – campus events
Relate it to professional interests and experiences
Project plan “Beginning with the end in mind”
“Live” office hours
Ask them why they are taking the course and what do you want from me, the instructor?
Do a student needs assessment
Tailor course based on feedback
Connect student interest with the course
Schedule chats at different times
Alternate a learning task for their life with a common task with connection to student
background
Contact struggling students (e-mail, phone call) to ask if everything is OK and how you
might assist them in order to be successful
Give audio or video feedback using cloud services (e.g., SoundCloud, YouTube) with
privacy settings turned on, so that only those with the link can hear/view
Have a discussion forum that is social in nature – e.g., an introductory forum (try asking
for pictures, or even a narrated powerpoint)