This study aimed to explore the effect of ARCS motivation model on
improving learning motivation and learning anxiety in students with non-
information backgrounds in the programming course. The students were
recruited from a university of science and technology and of these mainly
in the nursing department. The teaching materials included Internet of
Things electronic components and image-based programs and the ARCS
motivation model was applied in the programming course. The learning
motivation scale and the learning anxiety scale were used to evaluate
student’s learning motivation and learning anxiety, respectively, at week 3
(pre-test) and week 18 (post-test). The Wilcoxon signed rank test was
conducted to analyze the difference between pre-test and post-test scores.
This result showed significant improvements in learning motivation and
learning anxiety (p < 0.05). Therefore, ARCS model is a feasible and
accessible teaching strategy that substantially enhances learning
motivation and reduces learning anxiety in the students with non-
information backgrounds in the programming course.