Raj Subramaniam, associate professor, Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education, published an article titled "Motivational Effects of Interest on Student Engagement and Learning in Physical Education" in the International Journal of Physical Education, 46/2, 11--19.
This article highlights the power of interest on student engagement and learning. Specifically, it presents the key role situational interest plays as a motivator in enhancing student engagement. Situational interest can be enhanced through the manipulation or the modifiication of certain aspects of the learning environment and contextual factors such as teaching strategies, task presentation, and structuring of learning experiences. Situational interest is a viable medium that can be harnesed by teachers to motivate the unmotivated and disengaged learner to learn.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20090929085218502