Have you lost your curiosity?

When we think about what innate qualities each person possesses that allows them to learn, curiosity is often overlooked.  When thinking about how each person learns, is there ever a time when curiosity is never present?  Isn’t there at least a small measure of curiosity present when someone learns something new?  Without curiosity, will learning occur?

Dr. Bill Daggett, International Center for Leadership in Education, wrote recently that the rate of change in the world is outpacing the rate of change in schools.  No doubt, the rate of change in the world in which are students are now a part of is a rapid rate of change.  The world we live in has never changed so rapidly in all of history.  We can’t expect to equip students with the skills they’ll need to be successful in this world because we can’t fathom what skills our students will need.  Many of the tools our students will use in the workplace have not even been created yet.  The best schools can do is to equip students with a lifetime of curiosity.  That requires our classrooms be led by self-directed learners.

Curiosity breeds learning.  The enemy of curiosity is status quo.  If the distance between the rate of change in the world and the rate of change in our schools is growing, perhaps our schools have lost their curiosity.  Successful schools have at least one thing in common: they’re led by learners.  Learners have one thing in common, they’re curious enough to look.  Where are you looking?

 

2 thoughts on “Have you lost your curiosity?

  1. I think we need to be have conversations on a regular basis about what is working in our classrooms. I know I love to chat with other teachers and hear about what is working for them. Then, we have to be brave enough to step outside of the box and try something new! I will always be a learner because I am extremely curious. We need to encourage and cultivate curiosity in our classrooms.

    • Definitely agree Erin! It’s really about the conversations! I’ve been saying that over and over. So much change could occur if teachers were given an opportunity for conversations 🙂 I’m sending you something I think you’ll like.

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