Learning & Motivation ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

This course covers major learning theories, such as behaviorism, cognitivism, social learning, and explores current perspectives on motivation and learning as well as their interconnection. It examines how motivation influences learning and how factors such as context and culture shape learning experiences, emphasizing common patterns that can inform design choices, such as enhancing interaction quality and structuring activities within educational settings. Insights from research in these areas offer strategies for fostering deeper learning and engaging learners who lack motivation. Additionally, the course introduces neuroscientific findings on brain circuit activation and the neural mechanisms underlying information processing and learning, providing direct evidence of motivation’s role in learning and explaining why it operates as it does. While not required, students are encouraged to take Introduction to Psychology and a Research Methods course prior to enrolling in this course. Do not enroll in this course if you have already taken PSYC 3100 Learning and Memory; this is the same course with a different title.