Are they interested?

Have you heard of or seen TED Talks? If not, I highly recommend checking out this site.  There are inspiring videos on a range of topics relating to education. 

This one TED talk given by Sugata Mitra is about the power of interest as it relates to learning.  Sugata Mitra conducted an experiment in an Indian slum.  He built a computer into the wall of a neighborhood where children had not been exposed to computers before.  He found that with no previous exposure, the children taught themselves how to use the technology based on their interest.  He conducted similar experiments with comparable populations and found the same results – students taught themselves how to do things like record and share music on their own. 

This powerful video made me think about the impressions and attitudes that we promote in our classrooms.  Based on this video and Sugata Mitra’s research results, students are intrinsically motivated to learn.  He reports that “if a child has interest, education happens” (2010).  What does this mean for the field of educational technology?   If we engage, motivate and foster a learning environment that promotes interest, education and learning is sure to occur.  Integrating technology tools and programs into instruction can naturally instill interest which according to Sugata Mitra, education will occur.  If students are not engaged and interested they are not likely going to want to learn about the concepts being taught.  As a student myself, I can attest to this research  – it is challenging to learn when interest is not there. 

Technology not only provides endless academic implications, but on a deeper level it promote intrinsic learning which is part of being a lifelong learner. 

TED (Producer). (2010). Sugata mitra: the child-driven education. Available from http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/sugata_mitra_the_child_driven_education.html