When Passion Drives Motivation

I just finished watching a TED presentation featuring Daniel Pink titled: The Surprising Science of Motivation. I accessed this video from the Whole New Mind section of our class wiki. Daniel Pink tells us there is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does. Too many organizations base their business on the outdated practice of incentive programs. Mr. Pink suggests that the new approach needs to be intrinsic motivation. The cornerstones of intrinsic motivation are: Autonomy, the urge to direct our own lives; Mastery, the desire to get better and better at something and Purpose, the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves. He goes on to say that management is great if you want compliance. But if you want engagement, self direction is better.
This presentation dove-tailed nicely with the K12Online Conference 2009 presentation entitled “Engaging Our Youngest Minds”. Conference speaker, Angela Maiers warns us that passionate learners are an “endangered species”. However if we can identify and ignite the passion in our students then we can help them reach their highest potential. Combining student interest, high standards and new technology can transform student learning. Ms. Maiers illustrates her point by featuring a kindergarten student who was passionate about the plight of pandas. By connecting this youngster with some informational panda websites along with a blog site for her to connect with likeminded individuals, her goal to raise funds to protect the pandas took off. By giving this young girl the resources she needed, she was able to her to reach her full potential. Her motivation was not driven by grades. It was driven by her passion. She was learning very important 21st century skills with unbridled enthusiasm because it was self-driven by her interest area. This is similar to Pink’s presentation that intrinsic motivation is the key to success. And if we can connect with others who share our enthusiasm and motivation for a cause or idea, the spark that ignites our passion, can fuel a fire that will produce great intensity.