Why lack of motivation might be a design problem, not a learner problem

I'll be honest, I've zoned out from training modules even though I knew how important they were. Think ethics, fire safety, or cybersecurity.

But knowing its importance should've kept me hooked right? No.

Motivation is not fixed. It fluctuates. And one of the factors that influence motivation is the learning environment.

Motivation is not something that we as learners either have or don't have. Rather, it's something that can be cultivated through the design of tasks, quality of feedback, and a sense of connection.

It's a well-established fact that motivation is shaped when we experience autonomy, competence, and relatedness while learning.

But while we expect learners to engage, we often don't give them a reason to care.

Reflecting on that, and on my own experiences, I've learnt that assuming someone is disengaged in learning because "they're not motivated" is an easy shortcut. It puts the responsibility on them. Rather, a more important question to ask would whether the learning environment supports the motivation to learn.

If I as a learner don't have much say in my learning, or can't see its relevance, then I am going to zone out. And I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

As an instructional designer though, I also understand that tight timelines, budget or scope constraints, and rigid formats often limit our ability to design for sustained motivation. But recognizing that motivation is not static but can be shaped is a worthy mindset shift worth holding on to.