Assessment and motivation

You might not think that knowing that you're going to have to take a test or a quiz would be motivating but let's think about it. Knowing that you'll have to perform can be a great motivator for completing tasks, and also for maintaining focus and concentration.

Also, successfully completing an assessment can help build a sense of mastery, and thus build confidence. In that way, assessment can help motivate learners.

According to psychologists Edwin Locke and Gary Latham, appropriate goal-setting can be very motivating as well, especially if the goals are designed well. They found that goals are motivating as long as there is sufficient clarity, commitment, feedback, challenge, and task complexity. As you design your course, you can incorporate Locke and Latham's findings in setting goals that involve assessment that fit the criteria described.

You can also use quizzes to engage students and keep their interest high. In addition to Did You Know choice activities, you...