Investigation identifies key experiences that ignite learning interest in students, suggesting ways to enhance engagement.
Students often report that school isn’t engaging, but certain experiences stand out as sparking their curiosity and interest in learning. Zachary Herrmann, Catherine Zhang, and Gillian Daar investigated alongside college students the K-12 learning experiences that had a long-term effect on them. These experiences fell into four categories: Purposeful Moments, Planned Journeys, Spontaneous Moments, and Fortuitous Journeys. While some of these experiences require deliberate teacher planning, others require creating conditions that spark and support students’ curiosity.
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Herrmann et al. (2026) studied this question.
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