I quite like Annie Murphy Paul because she focuses on the science and research behind the things we take for granted in teaching and learning.
“Interest effectively turbocharges our thinking. When we’re interested in what we’re learning, we pay closer attention; we process the information more efficiently; we employ more effective learning strategies, such as engaging in critical thinking, making connections between old and new knowledge, and attending to deep structure instead of surface features. When we’re interested in a task, we work harder and persist longer, bringing more of our self-regulatory skills into play.”
“In general, writes Harackiewicz and her coauthor Chris Hulleman, “research has found that interest is a more powerful predictor of future choices than prior achievement or demographic variables.””
Here are a few tips.
“Instead of starting with the answer, begin by posing a genuinely interesting question—one that opens an information gap.
“Parents and educators can also promote the development of kids’ interests by demonstrating their own passion for particular subjects.”
“Harackiewicz and other researchers have found more success when they encourage students to generate their own connections and discover for themselves the relevance of academic subject matter to their lives.”
“Parents, educators and managers can also promote the development of individuals’ interests by supporting their feelings of competence and self-efficacy, helping them to sustain their attention and motivation when they encounter challenging or confusing material.”