ABSTRACT
Learning always has to compete with other needs, demands and interests. Even at the level of moment-to-moment attention, it is always subject to loss of concentration or distraction. The mind can wander. The time students spend in class could be spent doing other things, or nothing. And there are always ‘opportunity costs’ involved in following a course, which mean that people cannot devote that time and energy to other activities or relationships. Motivation is the word we use to describe the fact that, for whatever reason, people prioritize learning on all these different levels. If they do not, it shows up as lack of attention or concentration, lack of effort or commitment, lack of persistence or ‘stickability’. Are any of these a problem in your class?
