The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact

by Chip Heath

to his audience of 25 to 30 professors: “Imagine that you have a group of dream students. They are engaged, they are perfectly behaved, and they have perfect memories …. Fill in this sentence: 3–5 years from now, my students still know _______________. Or they still are able to do _____________. Or they still find value in ________________.” The professors brainstorm privately for about 10 minutes, and then they share their answers. At the CDI in July 2015, a professor who taught an animal behavior course said, “I want them to know the scientific process. If they see some animal doing something interesting, they can come up with a way to work through the scientific process to study it.” A health sciences professor said, “I want them to be connecting and collaborating with colleagues. They will feel confident reviewing new research and being part of ‘journal club’ meetings.” A math professor said, “I want them to think of math as fun and interesting in its own right, not just practical …. When they see a link to a math story, I want them to click