Tablet PCs in Economics Classes–An Empirical Study on Motivational Experiences and Cognitive Load

The focus of this chapter is on the conditions under which digital learning succeeds or fails. The study pursues two research objectives: (1) to investigate the influence of the use of digital media on students' motivational experience and cognitive load variables, specifically the question of whether there are significantly different time courses of these variables in 'digital classes' and 'analogue classes' and which different learning functions are achieved by the use of digital media; and (2) based on the temporal patterns of the motivational experience and cognitive load variables, to formulate hypotheses, including the interrelationship between learning functions of digital media and the characteristics of learning contents that can subsequently be tested in larger studies. The results of the study show significant differences in learners' motivational experience and cognitive load between the digital and the non-digital classes.