Awakening Students’ Innate Desire to Learn √ §

How can we help our students find “purpose” as they navigate higher education and seek relevance in their classes and projects? Can we counter the “crisis” of absenteeism that has spilled from secondary into postsecondary education by cultivating students’ curiosity? Could affirming students’ learning motivations help us help them with mental health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic? Join us to discuss Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom by Eaton et al., 2023 with special attention to Chapter 4, “Awaken Students’ Innate Desire to Learn,” pp. 123-156, which argues that “when students are fueled by innate desires, such as curiosity, they are much happier, less anxious, and less depressed than when they are driven by extrinsic factors alone.”

Participants can access the ebook online at any time through the AOK library before the session using the following step-by-step instructions:

1. Log into myUMBC
2. Go to the AOK Library Website
3. In the AOK OneSearch box, type the book title (not the chapter title) and press Search
4. Locate the ebook, and click on the link to Online Access under the descriptive information

There will be two sessions, February 6 online via WebEx and February 7 in person with lunch provided. Although you are welcome to attend both sessions, only one session can count toward the ALIT or INNOVATE Certificate programs.