In the summer of 2021, I read Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do About It by James Lang. The book’s emphasis on distraction intrigued me. Anyone who has parented, taught, or breathed knows what it is like to work with distracted people. I wanted to improve my teaching to engage learners, and Lang’s book was timely.
During that summer, I also explored Ryan and Deci’s Self-Determination Theory (SDT). SDT unlocked basic human needs that support intrinsic motivation and a willingness to learn. The paper blew my mind and set into motion activities in my courses that asked learners to reflect on their experiences. The pages in this section share ways I facilitate reflection in my teaching, including Weekly Reflections and Let’s Talk About Discussions.