The Development of a Model for the Design of Motivational Adult Instruction in Higher Education

Abstract

This article provides educators and instructional designers with a prescriptive model for the instructional motivation of adults. Adult learning theory has been integrated with John Keller's instructional motivation model to develop two motivational needs-assessment instruments. Results of research eliciting adults' perceptions of their motivational needs were analyzed. These results show that specific instructional strategies are perceived to be important for the motivation of adult learners. A prescriptive model for the instructional motivation of adult learners is presented. This model provides an important step in the integration of adult learning theory into the design of motivational instruction for adult learners.