Developing curiosity among children
Consider the last time your student read a book, watched a movie, or participated in a discussion that piqued his or her interest. It might have been anything. Did they seem to perk up? Are you able to maintain concentration and attentiveness?
When something piques your interest, parts of your brain related to reward, memory, and motivation “light up” with activity as if to say “fire up.” Curiosity, in other words, maybe a powerful motivator, causing the brain to really want to learn new things. When researchers set out to explore how curiosity influences learning, they discovered a relationship between motivation and curiosity.
Teachers, parents, and tutors of online school students understand how critical it is to arouse students’ interest on a daily basis in order to keep them involved in their studies. Here are some ways you may use to pique your students’ interest in school and in life:
Curiosity starts with yourself
Make a point of having an open, inquiring attitude about new and familiar activities, ideas, people, and cultural traditions. Curiosity spreads like wildfire. Try something new, whether it’s a new sport, a new pastime, or an online course on a topic you’re unfamiliar with. Seek out individuals from a variety of diverse backgrounds and points of view, and then actively heed to what they have to talk about their experiences. As you take on these new tasks, be sure to communicate your thoughts and feelings with your student, including the excitement, the joys, and the difficulties.
While you’re doing it, you’ll motivate your kid to take on new topics, participate in new extracurricular activities, and persist through the first pain that frequently comes with learning something new and different.
Questioning is important
You’ve probably heard the expression, “It’s about the trip, not the final goal.” When it comes to piqued student interest, it is the question rather than the response that holds their attention. The destination is worthwhile and will be a reward for a student’s efforts. The journey, on the other hand, adds to the excitement and satisfaction of the final product. Curiosity sets the tone for the trip and inspires a student to persevere no matter how difficult the terrain.
To keep students interested and drawn in, you must use open-ended questions. Those questions that inspire them to seek out their own answers. These are questions that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no or a shrug of the shoulders. They require them to search out their own solutions.
Active Listening
Of course, asking excellent questions is meaningless if no one is paying attention. The fact that you are attentively listening to your student shows that you are modeling for him or her. It is how to live creatively and communicate successfully. Set an example for your learner by showing them how to pay complete attention to what is being said. Also, how to replay or paraphrase the speaker’s remarks. Finally, how to ask questions that produce further knowledge and maybe even more inquiries.
Talk relatable things
Make connections between dull or difficult topics and your student’s hobbies and everyday activities. When it comes to online schools, one of the benefits of customized learning is the opportunity to adjust classes to your student’s interests, abilities and problems. If your student enjoys sports, have him or her research a favorite game. You can do this by looking at the game’s venue locations, statistics, or background information on a favorite player. The names of teams sometimes have fascinating backstories of their own.
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