Adaptation and Engagement

Wow!  Dan Pink is quite the motivational speaker.  He can really get you fired up.  He makes total sense, but my question is...How do you help students find what is important to them and help them to become self directed in their interest?  Intrinsic Motivation is built within everyone.  You see that from an early age when a toddler tries to get their own way by throwing a "fit".   What happens when their autonomy, their desire to direct their own lives, leads them to not desire to be in school or to study the subjects the State as deemed necessary?

I can't imagine that just making assignments on My Big Campus and giving the students the freedom to do them at their own pace is really going to motivate my kids.  As a teacher of MOCD special needs students I don't believe my kids have the degree of maturity needed at this level to make all those decisions.

I think I could try using  personality test and interest surveys to help students discover their passions and then guide them as they pursue their own interest in accordance with our lessons.

 One project I am using this year is related to service to others.  We are making quilts and pillowcases to donate to the Linus Project.  In the project I will all autonomy through the freedom of letting them choose, quilt or pillowcase, boy or girl, young or older child and colors.   As we repeat the project I am letting them practice for mastery in their skills levels.  The sense of purpose they receive when they take pictures of themselves with their projects as we pack them up and send them off will hopefully be priceless.

I believe we have a small group of students who use Intrinsic Motivation to guide themselves and a large group of students who need to be guided.  Helping students develop these Intrinsic Motivations skills will be a challenge in itself, but well worth the effort for them and our society.