Encouraging Awe and Wonder Through Questioning
Students ask questions about a topic or skill—ones that may or may not be answerable—opening their minds to the awe and wonder of life.
Students ask questions about a topic or skill—ones that may or may not be answerable—opening their minds to the awe and wonder of life.
Awe is the feeling we get in the presence of something vast that challenges our understanding of the world. Researchers have discovered that engaging with philosophical insights, scientific discoveries, mathematical equations, systems thinking, or other types of “Big Ideas” can spark awe. Awe is often followed by a sense of wonder, which drives the search for explanation and understanding and is elicited through exploration and asking questions.
This practice encourages students to broaden their thinking about the content they are learning or are about to learn, fostering greater curiosity, creativity, and wonder.
Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
In a study of 447 high school students in a Midwestern state (56% White, 25% Black, 6% Hispanic-American, 3% Asian American, and 10% multi-ethnic; 54% middle class), researchers found that dispositional awe (the tendency to feel awe in general) predicted academic outcomes, i.e., work ethic, behavioral engagement, and academic self-efficacy, via curiosity. In other words, awe-inducing activities may improve academic performance.
Awe also increases our cognitive capacity to learn and reason. A study of U.S.-based adults (75% white) found that people who often feel awe show greater intellectual humility (the ability to recognize the limitations of our knowledge and beliefs) and wise reasoning (the ability to consider others’ perspectives and search for compromises).
In 2019, the New York Times asked students how to improve education. One student criticized the emphasis on standardized testing, stating, “That is not learning. That is learning how to memorize and become a robot that regurgitates answers instead of explaining ‘Why?’ or ‘How?’ that answer was found. If we spent more time in school learning the answers to those types of questions, we would become a nation where students are humans instead of a number.”
Awe is a natural part of learning and can help “humanize” the educational process. Indeed, as educators, we have the opportunity to create more spaces and places for joyful exploration, part of which includes awe. Awe can foster curiosity for learning and exploration, and help create learning environments that feel welcoming for all by reducing feelings of personal grandeur, allowing students to pay greater attention to each other’s needs. Awe also inspires us, making us feel connected to something larger than ourselves and changing how we think about our place in the world. In other words, awe can help students find meaning in what they’re learning—a powerful tool for motivation and engagement.
Do you want to dive deeper into the science behind our GGIE practices? Enroll in one of our online courses for educators!
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