Ideate

Abstract

Understanding the push and pull factors for fostering creativity in schools, and defining the terms of the enquiry at least for ourselves, is an important part of laying effective groundwork, but once the big picture context is in place, we all must face the task of taking practical steps towards changing thinking, practice, and school environments. This stage must include moving from what some call ideation or defining the question into considering what kinds of steps or strategy to use.

I think of it in very broad terms, that inspiration, creativity, I think it’s accessible to all people. I just think we kind of train it out of ourselves and each other, unfortunately sometimes in schools. I think that if we’re just given resources, opportunities and encouragement, everybody will find some area in which they restore themselves through the activity of creating something, doing something original, exploring their own personality through a medium or a vehicle….I can only hear the voice of Mr Arthur Mitchell, founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem, like, 700 neighbourhood kids one hot, steamy summer after Dr Martin Luther King Junior was assassinated and opened up a garage, an indoor parking garage and they all took ballet. It kind of got them off the streets and he said it’s discipline. Discipline is what it gives. Discipline, focus, problem solving, creative problem solving, thinking outside of the box, design, engineering, teamwork.(Bronx principal)