Introduction

The two studies pertaining to open-source development were particularly interesting.  Lakhani and Wolf found motivation at work is most driven by how creative a person feels when working.   I just started a new job at Girls INC. and I was just telling a friend how much I enjoy it because of how creative it lets me be.  I don't have to follow an "algorithm" like is described in this chapter (which I think a lot of people my age are forced to follow in our minimum wage jobs).  I get to change the pace of what we do in our age groups and for me that is fun; which is what the other study the German economists found to be a predominantly driven motivator in the workplace.  

The two types of tasks we can follow on the job or in school are described as algorithmic or heuristic.  I think we are lucky to be educators because it has the potential to be one of the most heuristic jobs.  Teaching allows us to use creativity and empathy for our students.  However, the teachers out there who are just in it for the paycheck and the free summers could probably see the job as more of an algorithm; where they wake up, throw together the lessons right before class begins, and have the students partake in the same mundane routines and assignments.  

I think an even better idea for Samantha’s hypothetical reward stickers scenario would be to make the task of learning the alphabet more intriguing to the students by diving into their creative imaginations and making learning fun for the sake of the challenge.  As educators, I think it will be important to have our students intrinsically motivated if we want them to come to class eager to learn.