The Pathway to High Performance

EDge: The Latest Information for the Education Practitioner, Vol. 5, No. 5 (May/June 2010): 1-20.

An interview with author Daniel Pink

PDK interviewed author Daniel Pink about how the ideas in his book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, affect teaching and learning. In Drive, Pink argues that the carrot-and-stick motivational system, which works well for simple, straightforward tasks, does not work well and often backfires when it comes to tasks that are conceptual, creative, and complex. Motivation for these types of tasks-which are what today's students will be doing when they enter the workforce-requires autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

In this interview, Pink discusses how autonomy, mastery, and purpose play a role in motivating teachers and students to improve education. He discusses controversial issues, such as pay for performance and homework, as well as offering suggestions for motivating students who don't want to do anything. He also discusses how intrinsic motivation and accountability might be reconciled.