Talk to a kid. Any age. Ask them about what they’re learning or what they’re interested in. Can you spot “The Spark”?

It’s the elusive quality of deep learning: the smile, the excitement, the ability to wax lyrical at length and depth about what they know, what it means, how it connects and where it is going. It’s the body language of understanding clicking into place. It’s the feeling of accomplishment, perseverance and growing expertise. It’s the domain-specific terminology, deep explanations and synthesis of learning into action. It’s the recognition that what they know resonates with others, creating new sparks and communities.

The Spark is not likely to come from transactional interactions with AI or the feeling of learning as “work”. But it can come from any subject at any age on any topic. From the early reader excited to share their new favourite book to the higher-level biologist getting fired up about the polymerase chain reaction, The Spark is how we know they know. It’s their superpower.

Time and childhood are non-renewable resources. As childhood races past and times become more uncertain, I think The Spark is more relevant now than ever before.

I love this. Cruinniú na nÓg, the national day of celebrating youth creativity in Ireland, resulted in this gem of a video from the Kabin Crew & Lisdoonvarna Crew. Now it’s stuck in your head. Enjoy!