“Intrinsic Motivation and the Process of Learning: Beneficial Effects of Contextualization,

Personalization, and the Choice”

Diana I. Cordova and Mark R. Lepper Journal of Educational Psychology 1996, Vol. 88, No. 4, 715-730

Presented by: Youngmee Choi

Goals• Issue-recognizing coach + motivational

enhancements environment• Explore effects of different motivational

enhancements to an educational game– Contextualization, Personlization, Choice

• Measure impact on student:– Learning – Intrinsic motivation: Direct & relative enjoyment– Longer term motivation: Self-competence & aspiration

for future challenge– Task involvement

Experimental Method• Participants:

– 4th & 5th graders 70 students

• 5 Conditions:– No Fantasy control, Generic Fantasy-No Choice,

Generic Fantasy-Choice, Personalized Fantasy-No Choice, Personalized Fantasy-Choice

• Procedure(5 sessions):– Pre-test, Interest questionnaire, Play “Space Quest” or

“Math Game”, Play “Treasure Hunt” or “Math Game”, Post-test

Achieving Fantasy Effects• Two fantasies:

– “Space Quest” & “Treasure Hunt”

• Changes:– Start page included title & relevant icons– Prologue: Intro characters & mission– Game board changes: “Intergalactic trail” from

“Earth” to “Planet Ektar”

Achieving Personalization Effects• Use interest questionnaire from day 1• Change in prologue• It’s [child’s bday], 1044. …your crew [3 friends]

… necessary supplies [3 favorite foods & toys] … Commander [nickname]

• Use child’s name for various events:– Each turn: “Commander Peter’s turn”– Landing on intergalactic tunnel, on Earth

• Landing on Space Station– “You landed on the space station, Commander Peter.

You are now resupplied with[child’s 3 favorite foods]

Achieving Student Choice effects• Students make the following choices:

– Select the icon to represent them– Name their space vehicle– Select icon for alien (opponent)– Name their opponent– Select starting point for the two shortcuts on

board

Conclusion • Motivational enhancements can have a dramatic effect

– Not only on motivation, but also on learning

• Contextualizing, personalizing, & choice all provided enhancement– Possible with minimal modifications

• General principle– Maximize match between motivating activity & actions

relevant to learning

Future Works

• How could we make use of such results in cognitive tutors?

• Fantasy --> Context problem

– Survey students interests

– Incorporate in problems

– Feedback