Key points:
Curiosity is a fountain of opportunity for all educators. Because the world is always changing, there are infinite examples of how to use this to your advantage.
While visiting my grandmother in her senior living community, I noticed a recurrent series of informative talks. This is tantamount to a lecture series on anything from space exploration, artificial intelligence, or even telephone scams. These are surface-level introductions to various topics that the residents find interesting. While this type of information may not translate to high school students if they are already familiar with the topics, it does provide an obvious opportunity for educators: Teach what students are interested in.
All the great teachers I had growing up found ways to involve the topic they were discussing, even tangentially, into current events. Math teachers showed how parabolas were effectively used for space exploration. Chemistry teachers demonstrated why solar power was difficult to harness. A physics teacher even explained why energy conservation was such a big plot point in the film Apollo 13. These are examples of the art of education and how creativity on the part of educators can be wonderful.
Fundamentally, the argument I am trying to make is that the ‘why’ of learning should be fostered and can develop into a love of learning that extends well into adulthood.
The brain is an organ like any other, and to maintain its effectiveness, it must be used. It is common practice for older adults to partake in book clubs as a mainstay of their social and intellectual well-being, witting around with people at similar stages in life to interpret an author’s words and critically think about important themes. This may seem far off from a 5th-grade classroom, but people who start early continue these habits throughout their lives. For example, my grandmother is an avid participant in book clubs and claims role models in her early years helped foster the curiosity that continues today. This is just one of many ways that teachers can show students how to have an active role in their education and extend learning throughout life.
I am not ignorant of the fact that having a group of students in a classroom and expecting them to continue this habit is a farfetched idea; however, developing social interaction surrounding a group learning activity is an excellent way to encourage this behavior. While a book club might be too formal or slow for the standard student, they sure do love review games like Jeopardy! In the adult world, this translates to a trivia night–a fantastic way to package a social event around learning. This is an actionable concept that can be implemented in schools and hopefully will trickle over into a lifetime love of learning.
In reflecting on my own education, I think back to a handful of wonderful educators and what they did to inspire me. Their influence made me want to continue my formal education and seek supplementary resources such as books and other outside materials. For example, my 5th grade math teacher, Mrs. Perkins, identified my affinity for the subject and fostered it. Whether it was reciting PI to a few hundred digits or working problems backward instead of forwards, I still credit much of my love for mathematics to my experience in that specific classroom. While I know other students have had similar experiences, how do people who have completed their formal education continue learning?
Teachers in America have the near-impossible job of fostering education in students who often have no interest in the subjects being taught. How often in your own education have you drifted off during class while the teacher explains something as germane as American History? While it is information that you must understand to be a functional member of society, today’s students would much rather be doing anything else. Ignoring for a moment the difficulty with attention spans, how can teachers change this to get students excited about education? There are new techniques that take engagement to the forefront for students. Whether it is gamification, artificial intelligence, or other new approaches, the goal should be to foster a love of learning in the hope that it will bloom into a lifelong curiosity and exploration for knowledge.
Teachers have the tough task of educating students to meet ever-changing standards and making the process engaging for them. This task, while daunting, can be accomplished in innumerable ways should the educators approach them creatively. By developing lifelong learning strategies in students, teachers can help students learn and love the process.
