Universities seek to promote student learning, but assessment and credentials can undermine students' intrinsic motivation to learn. Findings from research on how people learn, mindsets, expert performance and good health are seldom incorporated into the way universities organise learning experiences.

A qualitative study investigated the role of motivation in academic achievement by gifted secondary students in five Australian schools. Results found that "personal pleasure in achievement and long-term goals" was the most significant motivational factor, positive links with a teacher was a high occurrence factor, and competitive…

This study examined the links between Australian adolescents' achievement goal orientation and the information sources they used when making decisions about returning to school and selecting courses for the elective final 2 years of high school. A total of 230 year-11 students from 2 coeducational comprehensive schools in a large city…

Examines whether students who are intrinsically motivated about learning procrastinate less than those students who are externally motivated and also explores the consequences of procrastination. Indicates that students whose motivation is external are more likely to procrastinate while procrastination is associated with poor academic performance…

Explains how one college student overcame the barriers of living in an isolated, rural area of Tasmania (Australia) to achieve his goal of a career in flying. Stresses the importance of schools encouraging not only student retention but also the formulation of students' personal visions and goals. (LP)

As part of an ongoing project being conducted at Australian Catholic University (Brisbane), this paper examines the idea of self-regulation as an inherent component of a student's transition to higher education and as a means of increasing the understanding of student difficulties, particularly academic problems. It also examines whether…