Do you ever have those moments when a principle you know to be true is demonstrated, and you are amazed anyway? Watching eggs being sucked into a bottle or cans being crushed by air pressure do that to me. I know it should happen, but I’m still amazed, especially if I do the experiment myself. … Continue reading
I love TED. I love it because when I have a few free minutes I can learn about no end of fascinating things. But I love it even more because sometimes TED brings me moments of mind-boggling delight. Here is one of them. It is a human kaleidoscope celebrating the “Power of X” to multiply … Continue reading
In a recent blog on the Scientific American site, Maria Konnikova asked Why Are We So Afraid of Creativity? I’ve been thinking about that question ever since. Are we really afraid? And if we are, why? Konnikova cites some interesting research that suggests that under conditions of uncertainty, individuals are likely to have an implicit … Continue reading
A few years ago Dallas Clayton wrote a book for his son, all about dreaming big. But no one wanted to publish it. Fortunately for us, Dallas Clayton is not easily daunted, and the phenomenon of An Awesome Book was born. Wait! Don’t read on. Go back and click on that link. Read the book … Continue reading
Today I’d like to (for now) wrap up my comments on the so-called “Creativity Killers,” common classroom routines that stifle both students’ motivation and their creativity. Today we consider choice—or the lack thereof—and its impact in the classroom. Collins and Amabile (1999) put it bluntly, “The best way to help people maximize their creative potential … Continue reading
7/17/2012 Currently My Fake Wall appears to be off line. It had been on and off for a while so I continue to hope for its return. Fortunately, “Fakcbook”, from Classtools.net now offers very similar options. You also might want to check out these options from the Web 2.0 blog. What if Christopher Columbus had … Continue reading
Today I’d like to continue my comments on the so-called “Creativity Killers,” common classroom routines whose negative influences can loom unseen over our classrooms. If you recall, Amabile and her colleagues have worked for years to study the relationship between intrinsic motivation and creativity. In her early work she identified several practices as “Creativity Killers” … Continue reading
It’s April already–let the (real) spring begin! Spring brings thoughts of growing things and, for many, the health of planet earth. With Earth Day coming up, it’s time to think about incorporating creativity in solving some of our earth’s many problems. The Earth Day Network’s educator site has lots of materials for Earth Day, including … Continue reading
Last Thursday I introduced the variables designated as “creativity killers” because they have been found to inhibit intrinsic motivation: evaluation, surveillance, reward, competition, and lack of choice. I know, the list is depressing. Procedures that are so familiar and common in classroom life can, vampire-like, suck the creative lifeblood from our classrooms. To add to … Continue reading
“There was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words.” Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, J. K. Rowling A strange thing happened to me on the way to planning a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando. In my search for information on … Continue reading
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