Abstract
This paper explores three ways to increase situational interest in the classroom. Situational interest is defined as temporary interest that arises spontaneously due to environmental factors such as task instructions or an engaging text. We review the history of interest research and summarize recent empirical work. We describe three ways to increase interest based on offering meaningful choices to students, selecting well-organized texts that promote interest, and providing the background knowledge needed to fully understand a topic. We conclude with six specific suggestions for increasing situational interest in the classroom.
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Schraw, G., Flowerday, T. & Lehman, S. Increasing Situational Interest in the Classroom. Educational Psychology Review 13, 211–224 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016619705184
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016619705184
- situational interest
- choice
- text organization
- background knowledge