Why are the Acton Academy Eagle middle schoolers so motivated to learn and deliver high quality work?

Is it the inspiration that comes from knowing you are on a Hero’s Journey that will change the world?  A strong sense of community, grounded in covenants, contracts and promises to a Running Partner?   The lure of points, badges and competition?

Yes, all of these are important.  But there’s one sure fire way to inspire and motivate Eagles to do their best – the looming deadline of a public exhibition.

You might be able to postpone learning a few skills on Khan; forget to write in your journal, and hope you aren’t called on to recite in public; bluff your way through a critique of your latest project.

But when the stage lights come up on a public show, with your work on display for all to see, there’s no escaping responsibility.  That’s what makes the very real deadline of a fast approaching public exhibition such a powerful motivator.

Soon our Eagles will be showing their Dragon Art at Amy’s Ice Cream, so there’s a scramble to complete paintings:

Game critiques take on a new urgency when Eagles realize that next week the school will be filled with real customers, deciding which games have the most commercial potential.

Film crews are hard at work, putting the finishing touches on editing, preparing for Wednesday’s film festival.

MS Eagles can even attend a public exhibition of elementary Eagle Process Drama at the Zach theater today.

Four public exhibitions in less than two weeks.  No better way to prepare for a “calling” that will change the world.