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Keller's ARCS Model of Motivation

📚 Education By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated
Quick answer: Keller's ARCS model says motivating instruction must win attention, show relevance, build confidence and deliver satisfaction.
Contents
  1. 1. Background
  2. 2. The four components
  3. 3. Example
  4. 4. References

Background

John Keller of Florida State University argued that instructional design focused on what and how to teach but neglected why learners want to learn. Drawing on expectancy-value theory, he built a motivational design model (1983, 1987).

The four components

  • Attention: perceptual arousal, inquiry arousal and variability.
  • Relevance: goal orientation, motive matching and familiarity.
  • Confidence: clear requirements, success opportunities and personal control.
  • Satisfaction: natural consequences, positive consequences and equity.

Example

A science lesson might open with a surprising experiment video (A), link to everyday cases (R), sequence problems from easy to hard (C) and let students solve a real problem with feedback (S). The model is widely used in e-learning.

References

  1. Keller, J. M. (1987). Development and use of the ARCS model of instructional design. Journal of Instructional Development, 10(3), 2-10.
  2. Keller, J. M. (1983). Motivational design of instruction. In C. M. Reigeluth (Ed.), Instructional-Design Theories and Models (pp. 383-434). Erlbaum.
  3. Keller, J. M. (2010). Motivational Design for Learning and Performance: The ARCS Model Approach. Springer.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

There are no materials dedicated to this theory yet, but you can search related reports in the CampusDown library (Korean).

Find more reports · Search '켈러 ARCS 동기 모형' on CampusDown →
Motivation TheoriesMotivation theories compared: content theories (Maslow, Alderfer, Herzberg, McClelland), process theories (Vroom's expectancy, Adams's equity, Locke's goal setting) and Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory.🧠 PsychologyPiaget's Theory of Cognitive DevelopmentPiaget's theory of cognitive development explained: schema, assimilation, accommodation, equilibration, the four stages, comparison with Vygotsky, criticisms, and report examples.📚 EducationBandura's Social Learning TheoryBandura's social learning theory explained: observational learning, vicarious reinforcement, reciprocal determinism, self-efficacy, the Bobo doll experiment, criticisms, and report examples.📚 EducationSkinner's Operant ConditioningSkinner's operant conditioning explained: reinforcement and punishment, schedules of reinforcement, shaping and extinction, the law of effect, criticisms, and report examples.📚 Education

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This article was last updated on October 15, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.