Motivation comes in three forms: achievement, affiliation, and power (Robertson, 2013). Achievement relates to mastery of new skills and ideas, affiliation refers to the joy of feeling connected to others, and power involves the ability to influence others and one’s surroundings. In school, students experience achievement by developing their skills. They relish cooperative learning opportunities and informal times of day during which they can experience affiliation with peers. The power to influence others is also increasingly important to them, but may not be within reach.

Too often, schools and parents measure learning solely by students’ test scores. What if learning was also measured by students’ ability to transfer knowledge and skills in a constructive manner that influences their world? Service learning, which supplements in-class lessons with community service work, provides opportunities for just this kind of education. According to Kraft and Billig (1997), “A service-learning philosophy enables a more natural way for children to see connections between curriculum and their lives” (p. 9). Students apply their learning to what matters to them. This is motivating!

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http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol10/1001-connolly.aspx

Please join us for the 2014 PASCD Annual Conference, “Leading an Innovative Culture for Learning – Powered by Blended Schools Network” to be held November 23-25 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, PA. Featuring Keynote Speakers: David Burgess – – Author of “Teach Like a Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator”, Dr. Bart Rocco, Bill Sterrett – ASCD author, “Short on Time: How do I Make Time to Lead and Learn as a Principal?” and Ron Cowell.

This annual conference features small group sessions (focused on curriculum, instructional, assessment, blended learning and middle level education) is a great opportunity to stay connected to the latest approaches for cultural change in your school or district. Join us for PASCD 2014! Online registration is available by visiting http://www.pascd.org