Creativity benefits from constraints…

The generosity of educators, authors, artists, businesses and all manner of other unexpected sources, currently sharing their time and ideas via social media, is phenomenal… yet overwhelming. One can drown in the ocean of views on remote learning, examples of schedules, suggested activities, tools and platforms, ways of staying connected, tips for being mindful, advice for checking in with children, etc etc

Stepping away from it all gives me time and space to be creative and generate ideas.

Creativity benefits from constraints.

What if that was the focus of the learning? What if, instead of trying to replicate or reinvent school, we allowed this to be a time of creativity? What if we took advantage of the way limitations can encourage innovation?

What if these sorts of guiding questions were offered as provocations for teachers and students alike?

• • What might I design/ invent/ create that would entertain or help others?
  • What useful or aesthetically pleasing item might I create by recycling or reusing things that are no longer needed at home?
  • How might I record and share my own and others’ feelings during this time, in a creative way?
  • What am I fascinated by? How might I investigate it further through the lens of creativity?
  • What do I care deeply about? How might I make a difference to others right now?
  • What are my strengths? How might I use them to support others?
  • Who do I admire? What can I learn from them? How might I go about connecting with them?
  • What might I learn about that could change me? How might I use my learning to change others?
  • How might I document this moment in history in an interesting and creative way? How might I adapt this for different audiences?
  • If I could reimagine school, what would it be like?
  • If I could reimagine my class, what would it be like?
  • If I could reimagine anything, what would it be like? (a library, shoes, a sport, a kitchen, a museum, a book, a toy…)
  • What have I learned during this time? How might life be better as a result? Can I create a manifesto for my future?

What if the above questions were supported and extended by ones like these?

• • Who is my audience?
  • What is my purpose?
  • What questions do I need answered before I start?
  • What materials might I use that are readily available?
  • Which skills and dispositions will I need to work on?
  • What new things will I need to learn in order to achieve my purpose?
  • What experts might I turn to? How might I contact them?
  • What do I notice about myself as a learner?

What if we all viewed the limitations of our current context as an opportunity for creativity and innovation?