Curiosity in Learning

The Superpower that Turns Kids into Lifelong Learners

Emily Veno
• 
April 20, 2023

Prisma is the world’s most engaging virtual school that combines a fun, real-world curriculum with powerful mentorship from experienced coaches and a supportive peer community

To the extent that we can give a brief answer to the question of where novel ideas come from, it's curiosity. That's what people are usually feeling before having them.
Everyone I know who's independent-minded is deeply curious, and everyone I know who's conventional-minded isn't. Except, curiously, children. All small children are curious. Perhaps the reason is that even the conventional-minded have to be curious in the beginning, in order to learn what the conventions are. Whereas the independent-minded are the gluttons of curiosity, who keep eating even after they're full.

-Paul Graham

Have you ever wondered why some people are enthusiastic lifelong learners, while others lose interest in learning as they grow older? What is the secret ingredient that keeps some students engaged in the learning process, while others feel bored and disinterested?

The answer is curiosity.

High curiosity is a superpower that can enhance the learning experience. And some would argue, as Paul Graham does above, that curiosity is the key trait that predicts a person’s ability to innovate by coming up with novel ideas.

At Prisma, we believe so strongly in the importance of curiosity in creating future innovators that it is one of the core four traits (called the “Prisma Powers”) that we hope to build in learners.

We believe curiosity is just as important as any one school subject, because having a curious mind means continuous learning. In a world changing as rapidly as our own, where people must constantly adapt and learn, this is a vital capacity.

In this post, we will explore the importance of curiosity and how we can build it in learners, using insights from neuroscience, the education field, and our curriculum.

What is curiosity?

Curiosity is the desire to seek new information and experiences.

Intellectual curiosity is a natural human trait that has been studied by scientists and philosophers for centuries. According to cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham, curiosity is "the feeling of being drawn towards something because it is interesting, novel, or challenging".

Having a curious mind is not just about being interested in the subject matter, but it is also about the willingness to ask questions and seek answers. Think about the person you know who always questions the status quo, defies convention, and falls down “rabbit holes” researching areas of interest.

Curious people share several common traits. They are open-minded, observant, and willing to take risks. They have a thirst for knowledge, and are not afraid of making mistakes. In the 5-factor model of personality, they would be high in openness.

Curiosity is associated with higher levels of well-being, better problem-solving skills, and more significant academic achievement. Research has also shown that curious people have higher levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.

Why is curiosity important for learning?

Curiosity is essential for learning because it motivates learners to explore new information and ideas. When students are curious, they are more engaged in the learning process.

Neuroscience backs this up, too. A 2014 study by the University of California, Davis, found that when people are curious about a topic, their brains are primed to learn not only about the subject itself but also incidental information. When participants were more curious about a question, they were able to better recall both the answer and the unrelated photograph that preceded it. The research suggests that by piquing student curiosity, educators can prepare students to better remember what they’ve learned!

Research has also shown that curiosity is associated with better academic performance, critical thinking skills, and student engagement.

Curiosity prepares learners for the challenges of daily life. In a world that is constantly changing, learners who are curious and adaptable are better equipped to handle new situations and solve problems creatively. Curiosity also encourages learners to explore their interests and passions, which can lead to fulfilling careers and personal growth.

Curiosity in education

Despite the many benefits, the traditional education system largely deprioritizes building student curiosity.

Traditional schools stifle curiosity by:

  • Deciding exactly what learners need to know rather than letting students follow their interests. Not every kid will be curious about every topic. At Prisma, we believe kids learn more when they go deep into the ideas that actually interest them. Beyond a few essential skills & concepts we expect all learners to grasp, we allow kids to choose what to learn.
  • Focusing on learners answering a teacher’s questions above asking their own questions. Learning how to ask great questions that uncover new avenues of exploration is an essential skill for lifelong learning. At Prisma, we use project-based learning, which encourages starting every unit with a big, interesting “essential question”.
  • Not allowing for failure or not knowing the answer. Curiosity is a practice of embracing not knowing. Through emphasizing grades, scores, and traditional academic achievement, we teach kids that learning is about being correct. But real learning, driven by intellectual curiosity, means being comfortable with making mistakes, humbly acknowledging the vastness of human ignorance. At Prisma, we’ve use mastery learning instead of traditional grades, where kids revise their work based on feedback, to encourage failure.
  • Promoting conformity and obedience above independence and innovation. Schools are part of a large system that values following the rules, fitting in, and checking boxes over kids who speak up, stand out, and do things differently. Truly curious people don’t accept “that’s the way we’ve always done it” or “because I said so” as an answer, but we think those kinds of kids, when given a chance to shine, develop into bold thinkers and change-makers.
  • Presenting truth as “decided” rather than something still being discovered. There is so much across history, science, and technology that we don’t know. However, learners are not often exposed to unanswered questions, debates, and shifts in thinking in various fields. At Prisma, we’ve developed themes like Uncharted Territories and Unsolved Mysteries that introduce big, unanswered questions (like “What is the probability that aliens exist?” and “Who was the real inventor of Bitcoin?”) to get kids curious.

There are some promising approaches in education that better foster curiosity in the learning environment than the traditional model:  

  • Inquiry-based learning is a teaching method that emphasizes asking questions and seeking answers. In an inquiry-based learning environment, students are encouraged to ask their own questions and explore topics that interest them. This approach helps to foster critical thinking skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Self-directed learning is a form of learning that emphasizes autonomy and choice. In a self-directed learning environment, students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning process and choose their own topics of study. This approach helps to build self-esteem and motivation, and it encourages learners to become lifelong learners.
  • Some homeschool families take self-directed learning to the next level through unschooling, a form of learning without any formal learning activities or curriculum, learning through experience, exploring their interests, and self-directed projects.

Practical tips for building and supporting curiosity in learners

There are many practical ways to build and support curiosity in learners. Here are a few tips:

  • Prime kids for learning by engaging their curiosity at the beginning of a lesson or project. In the research study cited above, we learned that feeling curious initially means learners will learn more. This could be as simple as allowing learners to ask questions about a topic before you’ve given them any information, or by “hooking” learners through a riddle, bizarre fact, or intriguing hint before you introduce it.
  • Allow learners to follow their interests, and avoid learning experiences that suppress curiosity. At Prisma, we allow as much choice as possible. If you are trying to teach the skill of oral presentation, for example, why not let learners present on any topic they’d like? If you’re trying to teach genetics content, why not let learners develop their own questions to research after learning the basics?
  • Answer questions enthusiastically and thoroughly. Avoid the temptation to wave away a learner question, even if it doesn’t feel relevant or calls into question the purpose of the activity. In fact, “Why do we need to learn this?” is one of the best questions to answer!  
  • Explicitly teach & model how to ask questions. Resources like the Right Question Institute and Harvard’s Project Zero supply activities that teach learners how to ask specific, probing, and rich questions to inspire research and discussion.

By incorporating these ideas into the learning environment, you can help to build and support curiosity in learners, which can lead to better learning outcomes and lifelong learning.

Prisma Power: Applied Curiosity

In a world of infinite information, pure curiosity is not enough. There are certain skills learners need to be able to apply their curiosity. When you ask a question and type it into Google or ChatGPT, how do you know what to do with the answers you receive?

At Prisma, we define Applied Curiosity as the practice of harnessing one's natural curiosity to ask great questions and find the answers.

At Prisma, we develop Applied Curiosity by teaching:

  • Research skills, that allow learners to find accurate and relevant information.
  • Reading skills, that help learners to comprehend and analyze information.
  • Data analysis skills, that help learners to interpret and understand data.
  • Digital media literacy skills, that help learners to navigate the vast amount of information available online and to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources.

By developing these skills, learners can apply their curiosity to real-world problems and challenges, which can lead to greater innovation, creativity, and success.

98% of parents are confident that Prisma is preparing their child for their adult life.

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