Motivation is the key to almost every successful learning program out there. Without motivated students, growing an online course is an uphill battle. 

Some educators view motivation as outside of their control—something their students either have or don’t have. But if you understand student motivations, you can talk to students in ways that trigger those motivations, inspiring them to keep going. Embedding a few psychological hacks or strategies into your course can help improve the learning experience and increase course completion rates.

Types of motivation in education

There are two broad types of motivations: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation comes from within, whereas extrinsic motivations are those that come from outside. As we’ll see, there are different kinds of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, and their pull can wax and wane over time.

Intrinsic motivation

Intrinsic motivation is a powerful internal force that drives folks to engage in activities simply because they find them personally rewarding. People act out of a genuine interest, enjoyment, or personal satisfaction in the activity itself. 

When someone is intrinsically motivated, they don’t need external incentives to push them forward. The activity itself is the reward. 

This type of motivation is often linked to higher levels of engagement, creativity, and overall well-being because the individual is doing something they truly want to do. Examples of intrinsic motivation include:

• Taking on more responsibility at work: Imagine someone who takes on additional projects or responsibilities at work not for a promotion or a pay raise, but simply because they find fulfillment in their work, enjoy the challenges it presents, and take pride in contributing to their team’s success.
• Playing a sport: Consider an athlete who plays a sport purely for the enjoyment it brings, rather than for the sake of winning a competition. The thrill of the game, the physical activity, and the camaraderie with teammates are what keep them coming back.
• Learning a new skill: Someone might spend hours learning a new language because they find the process intellectually stimulating. The challenge of mastering something new and the joy of progress are the only motivations needed.
• Volunteering for a cause: A person may volunteer at a local animal shelter because they love animals and want to help. The intrinsic reward comes from the satisfaction of making a difference and seeing the positive impact on the animals’ lives.
• Reading a book: Many people read books simply because they enjoy the stories, the escape into another world, or the knowledge they gain. There’s no external reward; the pleasure of reading is enough.

Intrinsic motivation is about doing something because it resonates with you on a personal level. It’s about passion, curiosity, and the pure joy of engaging in activities that fulfill you. According to a large body of research, including this article, intrinsic motivation can be nurtured by focusing on specific factors, such as competence, autonomy, and creativity. By understanding and utilizing these factors, educators, course creators, and leaders can create environments that foster deeper, more sustained motivation in students.

1. Competence refers to the feeling of being capable and effective in one’s activities. When students feel they are good at something, they are more likely to stay motivated.
   1. Set achievable goals: Break down complex tasks into manageable steps so students can experience success and build confidence.
   2. Provide constructive feedback: Offer feedback that highlights strengths and guides improvement, helping students see their progress.
   3. Encourage mastery: Create opportunities for students to practice and refine their skills, emphasizing mastery over time rather than immediate perfection.
2. Autonomy is the sense of control over one’s actions and decisions. When students feel they have control over their learning process, their intrinsic motivation increases.
   1. Offer choices: Give students options in how they approach tasks, which topics they explore, or how they demonstrate their learning.
   2. Empower decision-making: Encourage students to set their own learning goals and choose the methods they use to achieve them.
3. Creativity involves the ability to think outside the box and come up with new ideas or solutions. Engaging students in creative tasks can enhance their intrinsic motivation by making learning more interesting and personally meaningful.
   1. Incorporate open-ended projects: Design assignments that allow for creative expression and exploration, rather than having one “right” answer.
   2. Encourage innovative thinking: Pose challenges that require students to think critically and creatively to solve problems or come up with unique solutions.
   3. Provide a safe space for experimentation: Allow students to experiment with new ideas without fear of failure, fostering a creative and exploratory mindset.
4. Challenge refers to the level of difficulty in a task. When the challenge is appropriately matched to the student’s skill level, it can lead to a state of “flow,” where they are fully absorbed and engaged in the activity.
   1. Balance difficulty: Design tasks that are neither too easy nor too difficult, ensuring they are challenging enough to keep students engaged but not so hard that they become frustrated.
   2. Promote problem-solving: Encourage students to tackle complex problems that require critical thinking, pushing them to stretch their abilities.
   3. Celebrate effort: Recognize and reward effort and perseverance, not just outcomes, to motivate students to embrace challenges.
5. Belonging is the sense of connection to a community or group. When students feel they belong to a supportive learning environment, their motivation increases because they feel valued and accepted.
   1. Create a collaborative environment: Encourage group work, discussions, and peer-to-peer learning to build a sense of community.
   2. Foster inclusion: Ensure that all students feel welcome and included, regardless of their background or skill levels.
   3. Build relationships: Cultivate strong relationships between students and educators, as well as among peers, to create a supportive and motivating environment.

By integrating these factors into learning experiences, educators can significantly enhance intrinsic motivation, leading to more engaged, passionate, and self-driven students.

Extrinsic motivation 

Extrinsic motivation is driven by external factors rather than internal satisfaction or personal interest. It occurs when an individual engages in an activity for the sake of achieving an external reward or avoiding a punishment. Unlike intrinsic motivation, which is rooted in the individual’s own desires and interests, extrinsic motivation relies on outside influences.

These external rewards can be tangible, such as money, grades, or awards. They can also be intangible, like praise, recognition, or avoiding disapproval. Examples of Extrinsic Motivation include:

• Working for a paycheck or promotion: A common example of extrinsic motivation is working at a job primarily for the salary or the possibility of a promotion. The motivation to work hard comes from the desire to earn more money or advance in one’s career.
• Studying for a degree: Many students are motivated to perform well because they want to earn a degree. The degree is a means to an end, whether that be a better job, higher status, or meeting parental expectations.
• Playing a sport for a trophy: An athlete who participates in a sport solely to win a trophy or achieve recognition is extrinsically motivated. The focus is on the external reward—the trophy or recognition.
• Completing tasks to avoid punishment: Sometimes, extrinsic motivation comes from a desire to avoid negative consequences. For instance, a student might complete homework to avoid getting a bad grade or a reprimand from a teacher.
• Following rules to gain approval: Individuals may adhere to certain rules or norms primarily to gain approval from others, whether it’s from peers, superiors, or society at large. The motivation comes from the desire to be accepted or praised.

Extrinsic motivation can be a powerful tool in certain situations, especially when it comes to achieving short-term goals or encouraging specific behaviors. For example, extrinsic motivation can be a valuable tool in online courses, particularly when it comes to encouraging participation, improving performance, and maintaining engagement. A wide body of research supports this theory. By strategically applying external incentives, course creators can motivate students to stay on track, complete tasks, and achieve their goals. Below are key factors of extrinsic motivation and how they can be effectively utilized in an online learning environment.

1. Incentives are tangible rewards that students can earn by participating in and completing course activities. These can range from badges and certifications to more substantial rewards like prizes or exclusive content.
   1. Provide tangible rewards: Offer digital badges, certificates, or other forms of recognition that students can display on their profiles or resumes. This not only incentivizes completion but also adds value to the student’s portfolio.
   2. Offer prizes for milestones: Motivate students by offering prizes for achieving milestones, such as completing a module or scoring high on an assessment. Prizes could include course-related swag and access to exclusive content.
   3. Create a rewards system: Implement a points system where students can accumulate points through participation, attendance, or performance. Students can then redeem them for rewards like extra credit, coaching sessions, or early access to new content.
2. Fear and compliance can also drive extrinsic motivation. In an educational context, this often translates to compliance with course requirements to avoid penalties.
   1. Deduct points for incomplete tasks: Encourage timely submission and quality work by deducting points for late or incomplete assignments. This creates a sense of urgency and accountability.
   2. Implement open windows for tasks: Set specific time windows for completing quizzes, exams, or assignments. Missing these windows could result in reduced grades, motivating students to stay on top of their work.
   3. Require certain scores for advancement: Make progression in the course contingent on achieving specific scores. Students must meet these benchmarks to move on to the next module or to pass the course, driving them to study and perform well.
3. Social Motivation: Social factors, such as the desire to share success, build community, and receive acknowledgment, can be powerful motivators in an online course.
   1. Encourage group assignments: Foster collaboration and a sense of community by incorporating group projects or assignments. This not only motivates students to participate but also helps them build connections with peers.
   2. Set up discussion forums: Create spaces where students can engage in discussions, share their progress, and ask questions. Recognition from peers and instructors in these forums can be a strong motivator.
   3. Host live sessions: Bring students together for live webinars, Q&A sessions, or guest lectures. These events can increase engagement and provide students with direct access to experts, making them feel more connected to the course.
   4. Acknowledge student achievements: Publicly acknowledge and celebrate student achievements, whether in discussion forums, during live sessions, or through course announcements. Recognition from instructors and peers can be a significant motivator.
4. Competition can drive students to perform better by appealing to their desire to outdo peers or gain authority. It doesn’t always involve tangible rewards but can include status or recognition.
   1. Gamify the course: Introduce elements of gamification, such as leaderboards, where students can see how they rank compared to others. This tactic can spur friendly competition and motivate students to put in extra effort to climb the ranks.
   2. Offer prizes for high scores: Reward top performers with prizes, such as gift cards, exclusive course content, or additional mentorship opportunities. This encourages students to strive for excellence.
   3. Award badges and points: Implement a system where students earn badges or points for completing tasks, mastering skills, or participating in discussions. These symbols of achievement can be shared on social media or added to a student’s portfolio, providing additional motivation.

Why you should apply motivation to your online course 

By effectively applying these motivation strategies in online courses, educators can create a more dynamic, engaging, and results-driven learning experience. While intrinsic motivation remains crucial for long-term engagement, extrinsic factors can significantly enhance student participation and success in the short term.

Intrinsic or extrinsic motivation?

Both play an important role in your online course. Ideally, it’s good to have a mix of both. Most research shows that both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation are effective methods to encourage students to achieve their goals, but being aware of the advantages and disadvantages will help you use these types of motivation advantageously.

Tips for keeping students motivated

Need some tips for keeping students motivated using the principles explained above? Consider the following:

1. Implement multimodal learning: Incorporate various teaching methods—videos, quizzes, discussions, and hands-on activities. This appeals to different learning styles and keeps students engaged by providing diverse ways to absorb information.
2. Create clear objectives and a course outline: Clearly defined goals and a structured outline help students understand what is expected and how they can achieve it, enhancing both intrinsic motivation (through clear direction) and extrinsic motivation (by tracking progress.)
3. Gamify your course: Introduce elements like points, badges, and leaderboards to create a competitive environment. This appeals to extrinsic motivators by providing tangible rewards and recognition for achievements.
4. Do your research: Understand your audience’s specific needs, interests, and motivations. Tailoring your course content to align with what truly motivates your students (whether intrinsic, like personal growth, or extrinsic, like rewards) increases engagement and success.

By combining these strategies, you can create a learning environment that effectively motivates students through both intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

Using a learning management system

Motivating students can be challenging, so don’t do it alone.  A learning management system (LMS) helps better motivate students – especially extrinsically. LearnDash LMS specifically helps trainers and educators design the best course possible – one that’s effective! Some of the key features of LearnDash include gamification and a wide variety of media.  With LearnDash LMS, you’re able to reward students with course points, badges, certificates, and more.  You can send feedback and reminders to keep students engaged.  Using a video progression and a profile dashboard can keep both you and your students organized and on track.

Motivate your students for better outcomes

The underlying reasons why students take courses vary and may change over time. A student may start taking a course because of an external incentive, but continue with further courses because they enjoy the feeling of improved competency. Another student may begin a course because they want to change their perspective, and continue because of the social benefits they gain from it. That is why a combination of both methods works especially well for online courses and e-learning in general.

The more motivation you can give your students to continue with your course, the more they will stick with you in the long run. The more you learn about your students and their motivations, the better able you will be to speak to their needs and inspire them to persevere.  Try the LearnDash demo to see how this powerful LMS can help you address these motivations in your students.