Learner Engagement & Motivation Flashcards

A teacher designs tasks that are novel, challenging, and slightly ambiguous. This design primarily targets which motivational construct?

Answer: Situational interest

Situational interest is triggered by features of the environment—novelty, challenge, and personal relevance—that catch and hold attention.

Which technique is MOST consistent with Vygotsky's concept of the Zone of Proximal Development to maintain engagement?

Answer: Providing scaffolded tasks just beyond current ability with teacher support

The ZPD defines the gap between independent performance and potential with support, so scaffolded tasks in this zone maximize engagement and growth.

A student says, 'I study math because it will help me become an engineer.' This represents which type of motivation in SDT?

Answer: Identified regulation

Identified regulation occurs when the student personally values the activity as a means to a self-endorsed goal, even if the activity itself isn't enjoyable.

Which classroom assessment practice BEST supports mastery goal orientation?

Answer: Allowing students to revise work and track their own improvement

Revision opportunities and self-tracking emphasize improvement over performance comparison, reinforcing a mastery orientation.

Which principle from Keller's ARCS model focuses on maintaining student engagement throughout a lesson?

Answer: Attention

The Attention component of ARCS requires teachers to capture and sustain learner interest through varied, stimulating instructional strategies.

Research on stereotype threat shows it negatively affects performance primarily by:

Answer: Creating cognitive load and anxiety when students fear confirming a negative group stereotype

Stereotype threat diverts cognitive resources to managing anxiety about confirming the stereotype, impairing performance on demanding tasks.

A teacher creates a bulletin board showcasing multiple student approaches to a math problem, not just the correct answer. This practice BEST promotes:

Answer: A learning community focused on process and intellectual diversity

Displaying multiple approaches shifts classroom focus from correct-answer performance to valuing diverse thinking, fostering a mastery-oriented learning community.