Page 98 - Educational Technology A Primer for the 21st Century

5.5 The ARCS Model of Motivational Design 87
and uncertain events; (2) Inquiry arousal stimulates curiosity by posing
challenging questions or problems to be solved.

In details, designers or teachers could use the following six methods to gain
the students’ attention.

• Active participation: using strategies to get learners involved in the
learning material/subject matter, such as games, role play or other hands-on
methods.

• Variability: using a wide range of methods in presenting material to
enhance presentation and account for diversity in learning styles, such as
videos, short lectures, mini-discussion groups.

• Humor: using a small amount of humor to motivate attention (but not too
much to be distracting).

• Incongruity and conflict: using statements that go against learners’ past
experiences to provoke conflict and incongruity.

• Specific examples: using a visual stimulus, story, or biography.
• Inquiry: posing questions or problems for the learners to solve, such as
brainstorming activities.

(2) Relevance
According to Keller, relevance could be established to increase a learner’s
motivation, by using language and examples that the learners are familiar
with. The following six major strategies could be used to establish relevance.

• Experience. Tell the learners how the new learning will use their existing
skills. We best learn by building upon our preset knowledge or skills.
• Present worth. What will the subject matter do for me today?
• Future usefulness. What will the subject matter do for me tomorrow?
• Needs matching. Take advantage of the dynamics of achievement, risk
taking, power, and affiliation.
• Modeling. First of all, “be what you want them to do!” Other strategies
include guest speakers, videos, and having the learners who finish their
work first to serve as tutors.
• Choice. Allow the learners to use different methods to pursue their work or
allowing a choice in how they organize it.

(3) Confidence
Confidence in the ARCS model focuses on building positive expectations for
achieving success among learners. Learner’s confidence level is often asso-
ciated with motivation and the amount of effort that they put in completing a
performance objective.