‘Curiosity Approach’ in teaching and shaping young learners

Have you ever thought why a few students are more engaged in the classroom and even in their personal life. They might be more motivated than other students in the class. Have you wondered what might be the reason behind their learning process or experience? The answer is: curiosity. And globally, curiosity, a personality or mental trait, is gaining importance in pedagogy.
This is the Curiosity Approach -- a modern day educational method, empowering children to reach their full potential. What is the Curiosity Approach in teaching? Basically, curiosity in a teaching approach refers to the strategies and methods employed by the educators to bring out students' innate desire to explore, ask questions, and seek understanding.
Importance of Curiosity Approach: In a constantly changing world where creativity and adaptation are essential for success, encouraging curiosity in children and teenagers is more crucial. The educational and psychological experts always encourage children's curious mentality.
Researchers at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the brain activity related to curiosity. They discovered that curiosity activates specific brain regions that evaluate uncertainty, stimulating exploration and learning. Another study published in the journal Neuron revealed that curiosity enhances learning and memory.
For entrepreneurs, a curious mind is the fundamental trait because without it no one can bring innovation. Apart from that, an entrepreneur has the mind of problem-solving and is willing to take risks. So from the early childhood if they cherish curiosity teaching, it will really bring success in today's business world.
A curiosity-based teaching can also build empathy and understanding. When students are curious about the world around them, they are more likely to be open-minded and respectful of different perspectives. This can help them build strong relationships and contribute positively to their communities.
According to studies (National Institute of Health), students who are curious are more likely to remember and use what they have learnt in new contexts. This is because curiosity stimulates the brain, forming new neural connections while strengthening existing ones.
What experts say about curiosity learning: Curiosity Approach was founded by Lyndsey Hellyn and Stephanie Bennett. They established this theory in 2017. While founding Curiosity Approach theory, Hellyn stated: "Create a generation of thinkers, doers, and investigators."
Bennett, the other co-founders formed their unique approach to the early years by taking inspiration from many different sources. He states, "The Curiosity Approach is a beautiful recipe book of the teachings of all the great early pioneers, including Maria Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Rudolf Steiner, and Emmi Pikler." The Curiosity Approach's ideals share many similarities with those outlined in The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework 2021. The Framework argues that children learn and develop best in enabling contexts, where adults educate and support them based on their specific interests and needs.
The cultural barriers to curiosity in learning: The base of curiosity in learning mainly starts from the family. A baby grows up in a family and the parents can play this role of curiosity teaching. And the second learning stage comes from educational institutions. It plays a vital role to make a base for a kid. They learn real life activities, practical knowledge from there.
But ironically in Bangladesh, both family and educational institutions always impose things on children. For example, the parents choose which games their children should play, which clothes their children should wear at any function. They don't give the freedom of thinking to their children.
Then again some children ask more questions to their parents or elderly people to learn more. Sometimes parents get annoyed and say, "Don't ask that many questions, or stop asking those silly questions, keep yourself silent." Or, sometimes the parents show that type of attitude that children feel demotivated to ask questions at some point.
Same goes for schools in Bangladesh. Even if a student asks questions, he/she is mocked by the whole class. Teachers usually also get angry or don't appreciate it.
Parent-teacher partnerships in building curiosity: Parents and teachers partnerships in building a children's curious mind play a crucial role. Encouraging children to ask questions without judgement boosts an environment where they feel comfortable exploring their thoughts. Parents can respond to inquiries with enthusiasm, reinforcing the idea that asking questions is valuable. Parents need to teach their children to ask more and more questions.
For example, when returning home from school, parents can ask how many questions children asked today in the classes, how the day was, and which new things they learned. Besides, they can also give their children the space to ask counter-questions to their parents as well. Besides, at a very early age, when their kids face difficulties, parents can encourage them to explore solutions rather than providing fast answers. This technique promotes critical thinking and resilience.
The second learning stage comes from educational institutions. Educational institutions play a vital role to make a base for a kid. They learn real life activities, practical knowledge from there.
Teachers shouldn't impose boring homework everyday, rather they can give the students some fun activities as homework. Like cleaning the classroom or playground and it will be counted as homework, or write an essay on ‘What I like the most’. It should be an open- ended system. It would help the students to think out of the box.
Montessori theory in teaching: If the educational institutions follow the Curiosity Teaching approach it would be a super opportunity for students who are nurturing creativity in themselves. For example, if we see some prominent entrepreneurs most of them studied from Maria Montessori school. Jeff Bezos - founder of Amazon, Larry Page - co-founder of Google, Peter Thiel - co-founder of PayPal, David Karp - founder of Tumblr, Gabrielle Douglas - Olympic gold medalist and entrepreneur-- all of them were the students of Maria Montessori School.
Montessori theory is an educational approach that respects children's natural development. It was created by Dr Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, in the early twentieth century. The hypothesis is founded on the idea that children learn best when they are allowed to explore and interact with their surroundings. Montessori classrooms are designed to encourage independence and natural development.
Schools in Bangladesh can follow some of their tricks to teach the children. Almost every school in Bangladesh is dependent on memorising systems. But along with the bookish knowledge, if the schools had any outdoor activities in a week or doing some interesting game which is related problem solving, or doing any creative activities, exploring opportunities, it would help the students to learn more about the real world rather than a bookish world.
Curiosity as a building block to critical thinking and intellectual prowess: Albert Einstein said, "I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." Curiosity may boost up IQ, meaning Intelligence Quotient. In Bangladesh the average IQ of the people is lower than the global average, according to a few studies. So, now the question is why the Bangladeshis hold that low IQ. They don't have the ability of problem solving or critical thinking. Those types of characteristics are developed from the early age of a person. And in that case families and schools play a big role because only they can encourage a person to grow with their exploring mind.
Bangladesh's path to higher IQ through curiosity-driven learning: Bangladesh's educational institutions must adopt new strategies to harness the benefits of curiosity-driven learning. It would also help increase the IQ level of Bangladeshi people. Educational institutions can start a training programme for the teachers to cope up with this learning process. Besides, the educational curriculum should be reformed. Apart from that, parental involvement is a must in this learning process. So, some campaigns and training should be launched for the new parent for the upcoming generation.
It is high time Bangladesh adopted a curiosity-driven learning system for Gen Alpha and upcoming more generations as they are the future leaders of Bangladesh.
Tahmina Rahman is working as communication executive at a renowned IT firm.
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