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Curiosity & Motivation
How interest, uncertainty and intrinsic motivation can encourage exploration, persistence and deeper learning.
Professor Emerita · Researcher · Educator
Curiosity is where learning begins.
Marilyn Plavocos Arnone explores how curiosity, motivation, information literacy and thoughtful learning design can help people engage more deeply with ideas, information and the world around them.
Professor Emerita · Syracuse University School of Information Studies
“Curiosity invites exploration — and exploration creates the conditions for meaningful learning.”
Research focusAbout
Research shaped by a lifelong interest in why people want to know more.
Current roleProfessor Emerita, Syracuse University iSchool
DoctorateInstructional Design, Development & Evaluation · Syracuse University
Graduate studyEducation · Harvard University
Core interestsCuriosity, motivation, information literacy, inquiry and learning design
Dr. Marilyn Arnone is an educator, author and researcher whose work examines motivation and learning across formal, informal and technology-rich environments.
Her scholarship has focused especially on intellectual curiosity, perceived competence, autonomy, social relatedness and the ways these factors can influence achievement and engagement.
Across research, teaching and project development, she has worked to translate learning theory into practical tools and experiences for educators, librarians and young learners.
Research
Questions that connect motivation, confidence and discovery.
Her work brings together educational psychology, information science and instructional design to understand what helps learners become active, curious and confident participants in inquiry.
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Information Literacy
How learners build confidence and competence in finding, evaluating, understanding and using information.
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Learning Design
How thoughtfully designed digital and face-to-face experiences can support autonomy, engagement and achievement.
Selected projects
Research translated into resources people can actually use.
Information literacy
S.O.S. for Information Literacy
A long-running research and demonstration initiative creating multimedia lesson resources for K–12 librarians and classroom educators.
Innovation
Young Innovators Project
Research designed to help school librarians become innovation mentors, including interviews with young inventors and resources supporting creative thinking.
Nature & inquiry
Curiosity Creek
An educational concept connecting inquiry, imagination, storytelling, environmental awareness and the natural curiosity of young learners.
Reading & motivation
Summer Reading Research
Work examining free voluntary reading, information literacy and intrinsic motivation in public-library summer reading contexts.
Teaching
Learning experiences built around inquiry, relevance and participation.
Teaching is not only about delivering information. It is about creating the conditions for discovery.
Courses and projects have connected libraries, digital media, storytelling, community engagement and environmental inquiry.
Literacy through School Libraries Inquiry
Youth Services in Libraries Learning
Motivating 21st Century Learning Motivation
Information Technologies in Educational Organizations Technology
Storytelling for Information Professionals Story
Environmental Programming with Libraries Nature
Library Services for Students with Disabilities Access
Selected publications
Writing on curiosity, inquiry and information literacy.
2013
Acting on Curiosity: What’s Changed, What Hasn’t, and What Educators Can Do about It
With Ruth V. Small · chapter in The Creative Imperative
2011
Curiosity, Interest, and Engagement in Technology-Pervasive Learning Environments: A New Research Agenda
With Ruth V. Small, Sarah A. Chauncey and Patricia H. McKenna
2010
Supporting Inquiry by Identifying Gaps in Student Confidence
With Ruth V. Small and Rebecca Reynolds · School Libraries Worldwide
2009
Empirical Support for the Integration of Dispositions in Action and Multiple Literacies
With Rebecca Reynolds · School Library Media Research
Contact
Keep asking good questions.
For academic, research or professional inquiries, use the contact information below or visit Marilyn’s Syracuse University profile.