A teen struggled against the blowing snow, holding her jacket closed with one bare hand.  A small boy called to his friends to wait as he readjusted his bulging sports bag to navigate the icy walk.  Students of all shapes and sizes streamed into the school, despite unplowed roads.  Car tracks lead to the icy highway, heading north to the college for some.   Yet, smiles and laughs can be heard from students discussing projects and upcoming sports events.

Why?

What motivates students, teachers, volunteers, bus drivers, faculty, administration, and support staff, to participate in our education system, often against many odds?

Call me crazy (if you haven’t already), but I believe they/we participate willingly because of hopes and dreams we created for ourselves and others as a result of Learning Outcomes.  As students, we may think, if I learn ________, I will be able to:

• become a nurse/ doctor/ teacher/ EMT/ engineer/ technician/ programmer/ something like someone I admire.
• make or fix things to help myself and others, or to earn a living, no matter what the future brings.
• change the world and make it a better place.
• find out about things that I’m curious about.
• travel and see things I’ve only heard about.
• hang out with my friends, because I don’t want to get left behind.

Absolutely, there are many things we learn because we have to, but I believe as educators that when we write our Learning Outcomes it is our responsibility to write and communicate them to students in a manner that connects the less exciting aspects of learning to the greater passions of life.  Sports can offer us a perspective to apply to education.  Regardless of the sport, there is no guarantee of success or freedom from injury.  In fact, I still think to myself, “Pain is gain” and “That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” when faced with unpleasant tasks thanks to my high school coaches.  Yet, season after season, sports continue–because the focus is kept on the outcomes made possible by showing up and doing your best!

When you consider the Learning Outcomes you share with your students, what possible outcomes can you share with them that will inspire them to hope and dream something good will happen if they show up and do their best?  How will you connect the grunt work of early foundational learning with the success they desire later on?