Challenges of Information and Communication Technology in Student's Motivation and Learning

Some students seem naturally enthusiastic about learning, but many need or expect their instructors to inspire, challenge, and stimulate them. Effective learning in the higher education depends on the teacher's ability to maintain the interest that brought students to the course in the first place. The level of motivation the students bring to the classroom can be transformed, for better or worse, by what happens in that classroom. There is no single factor affecting student's motivation to work and learn, rather it is the interplay of many factors viz. interest in the subject matter, perception of its usefulness, general desire to achieve, self-confidence and self-esteem, patience and persistence, as well as the application of information technologies to sustain their interest. Not all the students are motivated by the same values, needs, desires, or wants. Some of the students are motivated by the approval of others, some by overcoming challenges. Researchers have identified those aspects of the teaching situation that enhance students’ self-motivation. Research has also shown that good everyday teaching practices as well as the information and communication technologies can do more to counter student apathy than special efforts to attack motivation directly. Most students respond positively to a well organized course taught by an enthusiastic instructor who has a genuine interest in students and what they learn. Thus activities undertaken and technologies used to promote learning will also enhance students’ motivation. In this regard, the present paper makes contribution by probing into the role of information and communication technologies in learning process, general strategies of motivating the students in higher education, incorporating instructional motivational behaviors, structuring the course, de-emphasizing the grades, giving them the feedback, enhancing their reading skills to motivate them in the learning process.