e-learning experiences

Wang and Han’s article “Six C’s of motivation” examines an example of the six strategies–choice, challenge, control, collaboration, constructing meaning and consequences–in action. I believe that the six C’s of motivation can be very useful in the classroom, since motivating students can be a difficult task for teachers. I found that three of the strategies stood out for me in relation to using technology to motivate students in the classroom: these were challenge, collaboration and consequences.

Challenge is a strategy that aligns very closely with Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development. I think that incorporating technology into lessons can provide students with challenges in many ways, for example using the technology, particularly if a task involves new learning which the teacher must scaffold. I also think the excitement of using technology in the classroom encourages students to tackle challenges in a positive way, since they may feel that they are learning to use technology in a way that is relevant to their everyday life.

Collaboration in particularly relevant to e-learning when we consider the use of discussion boards and forums in the classroom. These tools may be used to foster online collaboration between students by making postings online, sharing information or even working on texts collaboratively in programs such as Google Docs. In terms of consequences, Wang and Han argue that displaying student work increases motivation. There is no more accessible or public forum for students to display their work in than the internet, so publishing student work online whether it be in the form of written texts, podcasts or vodcasts should enable technology in the classroom to provide students with increased motivation.

Source: flickr