Although teachers are recommended to create a stimulating learning environment in which children can use, perfect, and extend their skills, this is far from easy. In many cases, identifying the optimal difficulty level of learning tasks involves a trial-and-error process during which teachers offer children too difficult tasks, with negative…

Can multimedia learning environments be designed to foster positive emotions that will improve learning and related affective outcomes? College students (N = 118) were randomly assigned to 4 conditions created by 2 factors related to learners' emotion: "external mood induction" (positive vs. neutral emotions) and "emotional design induction"…

Examines the effects of three levels of personal intrinsic and extrinsic motivational dispositions on grade point average in college freshmen courses rated as the student's most and least challenging. (Author/DEP)

College students' learning from programed materials varying in redundancy and difficulty level was investigated. Subjects with high achievement needs and low fear of failure performed better as the instructional difficulty increased. The group with high cognitive ability also performed better than the low scores when the instruction was more…