Engaging Our Youngest Minds: Ignite the "Wow" in Students Online Conference

Angela Maiers emphasized her point that student engagement and learning in the digital age must include passion. That is, find the passion in your students and that is what will drive them to use the technological tools-not the tools themselves. Simple concept but I believe she's right. She quoted Hegel's philosophy stated in 1832, "Nothing great in this world has been accomplished without passion." She questions whether technology integration is enough to cultivate this passion or whether we need to lead student to find their own. Ms. Maiers suggests to keep students' inborn sense of wonder alive, their talents and their uniqueness, teachers need to tap into student interest, maintain high standards, and use new technology. Thus, their learning can be transformed but passion is the most integral part. By providing experiences, resources, and tools, teachers and students can use technology as a platform to share their voices with the world. They can use technology to research, play, publish, and collaborate with others. To find the "wow." notice what they're engaged in and ignite the passion within.