This is What Intrinsic Motivation Looks Like

7 Comments

1. Bill Ferriter
   Posted July 26, 2012 at 7:13 am | Permalink

   I needed this, Sam.

   Thanks for sharing it.

   It’s left me inspired enough to try to find a way to make more independent work a part of my classroom, consequences be damned.

   Rock on,
   Bill

2. Jenn
   Posted July 26, 2012 at 8:38 am | Permalink

   Thanks for posting! WOW! These kids amaze me and to think they could be any kid, anywhere. I’d love to see this model in all our schools — but it’s frustrating, as a parent — to read and listen to these amazing ideas out there, but feel as tho it will never happen for my kids…

3. jen
   Posted July 31, 2012 at 9:34 pm | Permalink

   Wow! Love this. Thank you for sharing! I am passing this along. Reminds me of my undergrad teacher ed program at Indiana University http://goo.gl/LMFuP

   Thanks again,
   jen

4. Ron McIntyre
   Posted August 2, 2012 at 10:35 am | Permalink

   While I am not in the educational arena, I see this as a potential tool for commercial and government work environments to adopt this mindset and unleash a power of true innovation. Thanks for sharing this video. Would like to see the follow-up on the initial groups to see how they impact society after they graduate!

   Excellent idea for today.
   Ron

5. Andi
   Posted August 16, 2012 at 3:35 pm | Permalink

   Wow. So inspiring. Even though my district would never run with an idea as progressive as this, I can see elements that can transfer into our classrooms. Relevance. Choice. I love two quotes from the video, “…[the students are] not just the recipients, but the authors of their own education.” And, “…knowledge is an exploration of facts.”

   Thank you, Sam, for sharing.

   andi

6. Karen L
   Posted August 17, 2012 at 12:50 pm | Permalink

   I’m really happy for these kids. So happy that I might consider quitting my day job (teaching!) and home-school my kids when they’re older if they’re uninspired by their formal schooling. Which is a pretty privileged attitude, I know. But. I’m quickly, quickly losing all faith in our industrial public education complex. I guess I lack imagination but I don’t see this ever being allowed on a vast scale. Too kyriarchy-threating.

   The video is both inspiring and … frustrating? I’m a secondary (Gr9-12 = 14y.o.-18.y.o) Math and Science/Physics teacher in Ontario. The Science I can do but circumstances have me teaching more and more Math. I love Math. I f*cking hate teaching our curriculum. I could get behind something like this:http://www.ted.com/talks/arthur_benjamin_s_formula_for_changing_math_education.html as at least an improvement that is viable in the medium term. Our curriculum is achievement-gate-keeping garbage. It is not educating citizens to prepare them for managing their own lives, for participating meaningfully in a democratic society, or even really for their livelihoods. It is not supporting – let alone encouraging – critical thinking. Best that can be said for it is that it could promote one form of mental agility. (Okay, I kinda went on there.) The worst part is that we are looking for ever MORE conformity. More consistency amongst teachers. Better scores on STANDARDISED tests (ours aren’t even valid, let alone reliable. And they are f’ing curved, so it is kinda impossible to know if there is actual progress anywhere.)

   And out of the other side of our mouths? DI, DI, DI! (DI = differentiated instruction) I know that the video kept going on about how this is possible in every school. But I can guarantee you that as soon as we start talking about using this approach for credits and graduation and university entrance requirements, it’ll all go out the window. (I’m also kinda “curious” about the reality of the pupil-teacher-ratio) There is just too much institutional inertia.

   I’m not sure how I’m going to teach this coming year and still have any soul left by the end of it. Even better, we’re looking at protracted labour action that would not allow us to work in our “free” time. Meaningful activities take TIME to develop. A friend of mine says, “Math is the easiest subject to teach but the hardest subject to teach well.”

   Sorry for the downer comment.

7. Karen L
   Posted August 17, 2012 at 1:20 pm | Permalink

   Aack Ack Ack. I meant to put that comment that I just submitted on the blog of the person who linked here. I’m so sorry. I don’t know your blog and would never post such negativity on a stranger’s blog. Could you mod it all to h*ll, please?