-
Oblique Strategies to Overcome Mental Blocks
Applicants to All Soul’s College at Oxford were required — until recently — to write essays in response to a single-word prompt within three hours. These essays were used to gain insight into prospective students’ ability to be imaginative and leverage their existing knowledge to make connections (Seelig, 2012, cited in Tina Seelig’s MOOC, Creativity: Music to My Ears, 2014).In a recent meeting, the word “vulnerability” in learning surfaced. I was inspired to associate the word with several books I’d read and some life experiences — akin to how “oblique…
-
TyRuben Ellingson: Digital Pragmata Brown Bag
TyRuben Ellingson delivered an outstanding talk today at the Academic Learning Commons 4100. I took some sketchnotes for reflection. Two major throughlines for this presentation, as I see it, are: How do you become really good at doing something? What fosters creativity? I read and think about deep learning and effective learning — constantly. TyRuben’s talk adds to that mashup of ideas from print and nonprint resources. I see a pattern in learning that is necessary for one to become an exquisite and consummate artist (or an expert in any…
-
Enduring Passion: Letters to a Young Scientist
I became aware of this book by Edward O. Wilson in early August 2013. I had participated in the Arts and Passion-Driven-Learning Summer Institute. During the Opening Concert, Yo-Yo Ma (yes, the world-renowned cellist) read a few lines from the book on stage: [P]ut passion ahead of training… Decision and hard work based on enduring passion will never fail you. [Wilson, 2013, p. 25] Intrigued, I returned home from Cambridge, MA, determined to read the book. Fast forward two months. I’ve finished reading the book out of a pile of…
-
Creative Problem-Solving in Reality
(Image Source: Tashi Mannox website: http://bit.ly/f8jkfN) Note: I learned about these clouds through Dr. Julia Marshall’s presentation. Beautiful and iconic — representing nature, energy, heaven. And I stumbled upon Tashi Mannox by accident. Gorgeous design! I feel like an instructional designer with a complex problem that requires a novel solution! How ironic! I am studying myself constantly, because 1. I have read up a LOT on creativity, and 2. never tire of learning about it. When someone told me he was interested in studying innovation but not creativity, I am…
