Motivation to learn can be sustained by

Mastery-oriented goals (also called learning goals) focus on developing competence, understanding, and improvement rather than outperforming others or avoiding failure. Carol Dweck's research shows that students with mastery orientations are more persistent, embrace challenges, view effort positively, and sustain intrinsic motivation. Punishment generates fear, overly easy tasks lead to boredom, and rote memorization is unengaging. Mastery focus builds enduring motivation to learn.