Zen and the art of classroom teaching

Effective teaching involves applying the scientific principles underlying motivation, learning and memory. Intrinsic motivation, which stems from the inherent pleasure of focused engagement, facilitates sustained pursuit of teaching goals. Active, as compared to passive learning, is more effective; learning that is optimally challenging, repeated, and reinforced with real-world application tends to be remembered well. Central to the art of teaching is the relationship between teacher and the taught; good teaching can get the teacher and the student in a state of flow, not unlike Zen, that lets both of them grow.