I’m Curious about Curiosity: Fostering Curiosity in Our Homes and Schools

Our school is beginning our WASC reaccreditation process. Our first all-staff work session was focused on commenting on proposed revisions to our four ESLRs (Expected Student Learning Results). An ESLR answer the following question: What type of student do we want to graduate?

We referenced Dr. Tony Wagner’s book, The GlobalAchievement Gap, in our ESLR revision discussion. Dr. Wagner names seven survival skills for students in our evolving global economy. The skill that peaked my interest the most is #7: Curiosity and Imagination.

The Seven Survival Skills:
1.) Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

2.) Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence

3.) Agility and Adaptability

4.) Initiative and Entrepreneurialism

5.) Effective Oral and Written Communication

6.) Accessing and Analyzing Information

7.) (And my favorite right now) Curiosity an Imagination



Over the past week I have been reflecting on curiosity.

• How can we foster curiosity? 
• As a father and educator, how do I nurture curiosity at home and school? 
• I believe much is taught through modeling. Am I modeling curiosity? Am I a curious person? 

These are some of the questions I have been thinking about. Through my reflections, I believe the road to learning has the following bends:

     Bend 1: Be curious. Ask questions.

     Bend 2: Begin exploring. Find answers.

     Bend 3: Analyze and evaluate information collected.

     Bend 4: Prepare to share new learning (visually, written or spoken).

     Bend 5: Share.

What are your thoughts on fostering curiosity, at home and school?

Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours.

Wayne

Are you a self-motivated learner?

During a session today with fellow school leaders we brainstormed several ways to measure whether a student is a motivated learner. Our discussion left me thinking, "What normally motivates our students to learn?"

• A and B grades?
• Parents?
• Cultural values?
• College acceptance?

How can we send our 12th grade students into the world as SELF-MOTIVATED learners? Learners who do not need carrots and sticks to motivate them.

In 2010 I had the privilege of spending three days with learning expert Dr. Jim Knight at the University of Kansas (KU). On Jim's blog, Radical Learners, he describes learning as "not just something we do as a means to an end; it is as central to living a healthy life as breathing, eating, and drinking. Learning is not what we do; learning is who we are."

Learning is not just a means to an end. We shouldn't only be motivated to learn because:

• Our grades depend on it,
• Our parents demand it, 
• Our culture values it, or
• Acceptance into a top college requires it.

We should pursue learning because we love it, and we need it to survive, to thrive. We pursue learning because we intrinsically believe learning and growing are good.

According to Jim Knight, learners:

• believe we are here on earth to learn, so they are turned on by every chance they get to discover something new
• use technology to learn, or to teach others (and because it’s cool)
• have mentors and mentor others
• infect everybody with their love of learning

As educators, we are in the learning business. Yes, we ask students to learn new knowledge and skills, but we must go deeper. How can we help students 'fall in love' with learning itself?

How does your school develop SELF-MOTIVATED learners?

Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours.

Wayne

Hope and Education

Image credit: interactioninstitute.org

By Wayne Russell
6/3/2012

My philosophy that hope and education are weaved together began during my graduate studies.  My thesis project was about how children need a sense of hope in order for great learning to take place.  If children do not have a healthy level of hope that their future will be good, the level of energy they place in their education will be affected.  Whereas children with a healthy amount of hope will work hard towards realizing their dreams.

One of my favorite authors on education, Dr. Ruby Payne, pointed me to a great study on hope and poverty.  The study found that "an absence of hope" had helped keep people in poverty.

The study in essence monitored the effects of a program that assisted people in West Bengal with a basic need.  The people in West Bengal needed a way to pull in greater financial resources.  By helping meet this need, the people began "eating 15% more, earning 20% more each month and skipping fewer meals than people in a comparison group." The program began giving people hope that their present lives could be different.

Education is a basic need. Yes, we need water, food, and shelter, but we also need a good education.  Water, food and shelter minus a good education will keep a person alive, but will do little to erase the root cause of no water, no food, no shelter: Lack of good educational opportunities.

We need people to go into countries with poor educational options, to give children an education that will brighten their opportunities, and to ultimately give them hope.

What will you do to help?
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To learn more about the West Bengal study, visit... http://www.freakonomics.com/2012/05/23/hope-and-poverty/