Arlene King-Berry

Professor, Special Education, University of the District of Columbia

What engaged or excited you most about learning when YOU were a student?

As a student, what engaged and excited me the most about learning occurred when the facilitator of learning, a teacher, professor or fellow student, a master of the content, captured my interest and allowed me to decide how to demonstrate my understanding. In third grade, my teacher taught a lesson on the hazards of smoking and encouraged the class to participate in an Anti-Smoking Contest. This sparked my interest because my mother smoked. I drew a cigarette with bright red smoke coming out titled” This is not a Toy! This was the only time I won a contest for artwork!