There is a great deal that I like about this description of humanity at its best from Ryan & Deci. It is both a goal to be achieved and an indicator of conditions which are required for us to fulfil our potential. While the focus of this statement is on the actions of the individual we can see how society might act to deny individuals the opportunities to lead such an inspired and agentic life. I like to imagine what a school might be like if every individual who plays a part in its functioning strove to extend themselves, master new skills and apply their talents responsibly.
Maybe schools would be like the 'learning organisations' described by Peter Senge.
These self-paced classroom activities are designed to enhance the literacy skills of struggling readers in grades 5-8. Each uses videos, interactive activities, note-taking, reading, and writing to present students with an engaging science or history topic.
Each activity addresses a range of specific literacy strategies. All 15 activities promote monitoring comprehension, synthesizing, asking questions, developing vocabulary, connecting prior knowledge to new learning, and developing a topic in writing.