Final answer:
Jean Piaget theorized that students are most motivated when actively constructing knowledge through exploration, facilitating intrinsic motivation and cognitive development through assimilation and accommodation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jean Piaget, a renowned psychologist, believed that students are most highly motivated to learn when they are actively constructing their own knowledge through exploration. This approach aligns with Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which emphasizes that children learn best when they are able to interact with their environment and engage in problem-solving. According to Piaget, as children encounter new information, they integrate it through processes known as assimilation and accommodation, thereby adjusting their mental models or schemata to understand the world around them.
Intrinsic motivation in learning is heightened when students perceive a sense of autonomy and are provided opportunities that challenge their existing schemata in a supportive environment. Contrary to extrinsic motivation, such as competing for rewards, intrinsic motivation arises from within the learner, fostered by engaging in activities that feel inherently satisfying and meaningful.