Student motivation, or lack thereof, is a popular topic in dis- cussions about the challenges of modern education. Teachers wonder how best to motivate students; parents wonder why their children are not motivated to do well in school; and the popular media laments a general trend toward student disengagement. Motivation is a crucial concept in education because it has been shown to influence interest, excitement, and confidence, which in turn enhance perform- ance, persistence, creativity, and general well-being (Ryan & Deci, 2000).