The joy of learning is often discussed in education, yet it is rarely clearly defined. Caught between the desire to make learning engaging and the risk of reducing it to mere entertainment, many educators are searching for the right balance. For researcher Jean-François Desbiens, joy in education is neither spectacle nor an easy reward—it is something that must be intentionally designed and thoughtfully cultivated.

How can educational communities be supported in times of continuous transformation? Pick up your pen (or your keyboard!) and contribute as an author to the Winter 2026–2027 issue of Engaged Learning magazine.

What if schools were no longer organized around rigid subjects and fixed schedules? Although this idea is often dismissed as unrealistic, some schools across Canada, the United States, and Europe are already experimenting with alternative models. Micro-schools, hybrid schools, and community-based learning networks all share a common goal: helping students progress at their own pace through meaningful experiences and authentic demonstrations of competency.