Technology as a tool to enhance motivation and learning

¹ Instituto Politécnico de Beja, Campus do IPBeja, 7800-295 Beja, Portugal
² Unicamp-Universidade Estadual de Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brasil

^* Corresponding author: albertina@ipbeja.pt

Abstract

The aim of this work is to think about how technologies can have a role in motivation for learning. To respond to the necessary paradigm shift school faces, resulting from a different way of life in very recent past, the use of technology proves to be a powerful ally, ensuring student’s ability to respond to technical and scientific questions as well as creating an environment of trust and security in classroom. Considering that we are at a critical turning point in technological evolution and changes seem irreversible. What new challenges does the teacher also face in this field? To understand what makes the activity and the class remarkable for students, we are using semi-structured interview, focus group and questionnaire. Methods and technics used in the classes were diversified, and according to the intended goal. The use of these methods was not conditioned by technology but by the defined learning goals. Although this work is still beginning and needs to be continued, the results show that technology helps students to feel confident since it doesn’t expose individual (un)knowledge, allows them to learn with pleasure, generates group dynamics and globally, creates happy moments that increase motivation and improve learning. Results show us that it is imperative to realize how much the teacher as an important integrative agent mediating between the real/virtual, technological/scientific, curriculum/skill, cognitive/emotional worlds.