Dave Gray at Communication Nation is conducting an experiment in facilitating an asynchonous conversation with Maish R. Nichani who writes the elearningpost blog. I’ve seen just a couple of attempts at creating an open, evolving dialogue like this on other blogs so it will be interesting to see what happens.
What’s particularly interesting are some of the initial comments from Maish about our learned lack of comfort with being uncomfortable. As someone with children just entering the U.S. educational system, his thoughts run parallel to my own – we either need to worrk to change the system (which is an uphill battle and frought with much despair) or change the way we help our kids (which is something specific that all parents have the power to do). Here’s Maish’s thoughts:
It’s one thing to be out of touch, it’s totally another to do something about it. In this day and age, success, I think, comes to those who are comfortable being uncomfortable or those who deliberately practice being uncomfortable. But many of us shy way from being out of touch. A few days ago I had a chat with a friend who runs creativity courses here and he signaled out the education system as the reason for this passive shyness. Right from the start we are told to draw on the lines and color inside the boxes and this conformity mindset has molded us into being passive receivers. But thanks to the Internet, there is hope.
So, let’s encourage our kids to draw outside the lines, wear clothes that don’t match, make messes, make mistakes, think really big things. Build their confidence to be active generators rather than mere passive receivers. And continue to listen and encourage them when an old, industrial-era teacher comes along to squash these better qualities. Because it will happen at some point either as a kid or as an adult. Creativity is an act of open disobedience against the norms. Creativity is an act of courage
“So, let’s encourage our kids to draw outside the lines, wear clothes that don’t match, make messes, make mistakes, think really big things. Build their confidence to be active generators rather than mere passive receivers. And continue to listen and encourage them…Creativity is an act of open disobedience against the norms. Creativity is an act of courage”
Bravo!
Terry
Amen to that. We sacrifice our kids creativity at the altars of standardisation and convergent thinking. Why? Because, commonality is easier to manage and it’s measureable. By the time kids turn 10 their crayons have long since been taken away and we’ve given them blue ballpoint pens. We clutch these for the the rest of our lives. It should be the mission of all managers, teachers and parents to give people back their crayons.
Hi Paul…I love that whole image of giving people back their crayons. It’s brilliant. I often have this devilish impulse to go through our office, which has nothing but white walls and go nuts with a big box of Crayolas. Never was able to purge the five year old out of me (and they never will…ha ha ha).
If any of you are genuinely interested in creativity, you should read and follow Sir Ken Robinson. Pick up a copy of his “The Element,” some of the best thinking on creativity, inspiring it, understanding it and finding your passion. The stories are real and genuinely helpful in your own development or that of your kids. Finally, know that I have nothing to do with Sir Ken or his publisher; I’m just a fan of what he believes and think you might be, too.