The Heart of Learning

Abstract

This essay explores the central importance of human interest and aspiration in learning. In an age when our educational institutions and ministries of education seem to be preoccupied with defining and measuring the “outcomes” of schooling, there is a great need to reconsider what we are doing in curriculum studies and refocus at least some of our energy on helping young people develop and sustain their interests. I use an autobiographical account of my interest in playing guitar and how this is related to my formative school experiences is to develop my argument. The article also reviews literature tracing educational research and writing that focuses on the role of interest in learning.