The effects of control versus autonomy in hypermedia learning environments

Abstract

This study concerns the effect of autonomy when studying learning material on students’ motivation, perceived mental effort and learning results, taken into account students’ prior domain knowledge, learning ability and attitude towards learning. The objective of this study is to find a balance between the implications, for the design of educational instruction, of Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) and Self Determination Theory (SDT) with regard to the amount of control that is optimal for learning.