According to Edward Deci, a primary motivator for human creativity, power, and confidence is personal autonomy—the freedom to choose what, and to a certain extent, how we work on things we care about.. Close behind autonomy as motivators are the connectedness we feel to and for people we care about (and for whom our work matters), and a growing sense of competence in our fledgling skills. This session will explore the ways teachers can build environs that encourage learner autonomy, connectedness, and competence, giving learners permission and strategies to work on projects at the center of their lives and/or interests.
*Deci, Edward L. Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivation. New York, Penguin, 1995.
