We in the training/learning business have all kinds of ideas about learning styles, matching content to the objectives, meeting standards, improving test scores, receiving good evaluations, etc. What if we changed our focus to a new concept. What if our students walked away with a compelling desire to return to their homes/workplace and implement what they have learned and continue down the learning path. 
 
Think for a moment about the things you are passionate about.  There is almost nothing that can stop you from learning more, trying things out and even risking failure, just so you can "achieve" them.  You will work hard, study hard, seek out new information, push your body to new physical heights just to get what you are seeking. What drives that passion?  What motivates people to seek out all the knowledge they can about something and use it to improve their station in life. I am sure it can be attributed to several different things, but there is one common denominator behind them all: passion. Passion is a feeling, a very powerful feeling that compels one to move forward with something they may not have attempted before. We all would like to employ students and staff like that but for the most part, we tend to fall short. We don't see training or learning as a driving factor in providing the foundation for that passion. But learning enables people to succeed. It provides confidence to reach out and try. It equips people with the tools they need to ultimately find success. 
 
We think of motivation mostly in a sports setting. We admire people who reach above and beyond to achieve great heights. But what if that same passion were present in your school or organization. What dynamics would change and how would that impact the bottom line. What if students and employees woke up every morning excited about what they were going to do that day. Or even, what if they woke up and realized that although they may not be doing exactly what it is that excites them,  what they were doing ultimately was going to help them achieve "their" goals in the end. Can learning inspire that passion? Or does passion inspire learning?