Assessment of motivation in online learning environments

This research outline refers to the assessment of motivation in online learning environments. It includes a presentation of previous approaches, most of them based on Keller’s ARCS model, and argues for an approach based on Social Cognitive Learning Theory, in particular building on self-efficacy and self-regulation concepts. The research plan includes two steps: first, detect the learners in danger of dropping-out based on their interaction with the system; second, create a model of the learner’s motivation (including self-efficacy, self-regulation, goal orientation, attribution and perceived task characteristics) upon which intervention can be done.