A recent article published in Tech Trends, by Dr. Eunbae Lee of Georgia Southern University, Dr. Joseph Pate of Young Harris College, and Dr. Deanna Cozart of the University of Georgia discussed the importance of providing autonomy support as a strategy to increase online students’ intrinsic motivation and engagement.
The authors begin by noting the rapid growth in students taking online courses, along with the role that motivation and engagement play in student success. They note that students engagement, which they define as “investment in learning activities” (p. 54) is essential for online students as it can increases learning, promotes meaningful interaction between students and their peers and the instructor, and reduces risks of online education such as dropping out.
The authors then review the importance of autonomy for students, and how feeling empowered to make decisions it leads to greater motivation and provides students with a sense of ownership and accountability. The authors note that instructors can facilitate autonomy when they: (a) support students’ values and interests; and (b) support students’ autonomy. Instructors who cultivate this environment foster emotional connections with that supporting autonomy leads to increased learning outcomes.
The authors provide three guidelines for how instructors can facilitate autonomy with online students:
1. Provide Choices – Giving students options results in them spending more time on learning activities and leads to higher completion rates. Instructors have to balance choices, to avoid providing an excessive number of options, but providing choices within a structure is very beneficial to students.
2. Provide Rationale – Autonomy does not always involve choices. The authors note that researchers have found that students who were provided with rationale for assignments increased behavioral engagement and conceptual learning. The authors observe that students will be more likely to endorse assignments if provided with a rationale.
3. Provide Opportunities for Personalization – The authors note that when students work on projects that are personally meaningful, they become invested and motivated to do well, as the assignment has clear meaning to their lives. Personalizing assignments requires instructors to be aware of students’ interests and preferences and incorporating those to some degree (interests can vary) into assignments.
These 3 guidelines can help instructors cultivate support for autonomy in online courses and subsequently enhance the learning and experience of the class and are highly encouraged!
Let us know what you think about your experiences with students and autonomy.
Check out a recent post with ideas for motivating students: Motivation Cultivation.
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