Spark Learning: 3 Keys to Embracing the Power of Student Curiosity

Curiosity changes everything.

In 2008, Ramsey Musallam was stuck in what he describes as an ineffective rut of "pseudoteaching." Students liked him, but they didn't get the point of his lessons. They did well enough on the tests, but they failed to really understand the material.

He wanted more--for them and for himself. Maybe you can relate.

For Ramsey, the journey to a better way of teaching began not in the classroom, but on the operating table where he underwent a new, lifesaving heart surgery. His surgeon's confidence, dedication, and curiosity sparked an idea in Ramsey: What if teachers adopted the qualities his surgeon exhibited and were inquisitive, ready to explore, discover, try, and, yes, even fail? What if students could learn to adopt those traits as well? Those questions launched a quest to inspire inquiry and harness its benefits.

Spark Learning, inspired by Ramsey's popular TED Talk "3 Rules to Spark Learning," combines brain science research, proven teaching methods, and his personal story to empower you to improve your students' learning experiences with ...

• Easy-to-implement ideas for sparking curiosity in your students

• Strategies for encouraging students to embrace the mess of learning

• Practices for effective reflection that propels future learning--and greater curiosity

• Technology tips to make it simple to collect and use your own inspiring ideas

"This is a call to action for educators everywhere to recognize their own influence and ability to embrace and encourage curiosity. All teacher education programs should have this as required reading "

--Elizabeth Brumbaugh, director of learning, innovation and design, Harker School

"Ramsey captures the essence of what it means to pursue excellence in our teaching practice since our students and our communities deserve our best."

--Gregory T. Rushton, PhD, associate professor of chemistry, Stony Brook University

"You'll find his thoughts intriguing, the examples practical, and the ten bonus strategies wonderful tools for making great things happen in your classroom "

--Rushton Hurley, founder, NextVista.org