CREATIVITY SQUEEZE

I've heard the word 'creativity' used a lot this week; sadly prefaced with 'it's killing my. . . " or "they are stifling my. . .

As a result I know fantastic people who are leaving their professions and saying goodbye to what is still their passion.  And why? Because children are reduced to numbers and ranked by their levels and staff micromanaged by structures and people that employ the very opposite forms of positive behaviour management that we all know work so well.

I so hope that the words of Sir Ken Robinson lead to the kind of deep-rooted change that is so needed.  Structures that hold authority desperately need to grow their creativity, and yet as far as I can see, the pressure to be seen to be busy and held accountable to the minute detail is serving only to drive away any such resource.  All that might be left is a mindset of protectionism, power and control.

Then again that might not be such a bad thing as such places will surely become increasingly irrelevant islands.

Positive parenting for all

From the inspiration of Sesame Street, from Head Start to Sure Start, to today's multiple rewording of troubled / vulnerable / at risk / etc families there has always been a will to make a difference and somehow help alter life courses for children born into challenging circumstances (see the vague language isn't helpful) What on earth does 'challenging' mean?  or for that matter 'troubled', or 'vulnerable'?

I've heard it said a few times that if a 'vulnerable' young person was to approach you on the street it would in fact be you that would feel 'vulnerable'.  Ditto 'challenged' young person.  Fact is the whole definition game is a politically loaded arena, with gains to be made by statisticians able to prove policies make a difference.  Meanwhile life goes on and our gut feeling might lead us to think otherwise.

For me the bottom line is that we must act on what we know to be right.  This means asking simple, fundamental questions, the kind that Joan Ganz Cooney posed way back. Radical but simple questions can lead to amazing change.

In today's smartphone-toting, social media rich culture, I often wonder what media we can harness to make expert knowledge available to everyone?  One great example is the adaptation of Stephen Bavolek's research and parenting programmes in the form of three 8-week on-line parenting programmes delivered though Netmums in the UK.

Any iPhone users signed up to the nurturing parenting programme don't forget Pocket Praise is a great tool to capture and share good behaviours.  Indeed ANY form of positive acknowledgement of children is wonderful and it's hard to overstate its effect.

The more we learn about brain science the more compelling becomes the case for kindness and sensitive parenting.  Research suggests that by the time a child turns 3, each original neurone has formed as many as 10,000 connections, making a total of about a quadrillion (1,000,000,000,000,000) throughout the brain. (That’s double the number of connections in your own brain.) Not only does this perhaps explain the creativity of an infant but make a strong case for supporting the brain's natural divergent development.

The baby brain holds the keys.  We must treat every one as the most precious thing in the world, for it is these very brains, in all their amazing complexity, that will help make sense of the world they have inherited.

Meaningful, purposeful learning

As a qualified Occupational Therapist I'm a real believer in the importance of meaning and purpose in the activities that we engage in on a daily basis.  I only have to spend a few minutes with my 11 month old son to see the pleasure this brings - challenging himself to test the very limits of his abilities over and over again, and take huge delight in this learning, whether it's a new hand grip, or a discovery of the power of mimic and laughter, it's a joy to behold.

So at what point does this innate drive get quashed?  And moreover just imagine a childhood without straight-jacketing structures based on grade levels and charting progress as if the numbers were the whole purpose of learning?

I enjoy Richard Gerver's blog and was taken with the emotion of his latest post.  Words aside, we all know instinctively when something is inspiring.  We only resort to words to try and describe the feeling to others who weren't there.  It rarely does the original event justice. . . .'You had to be there!' being an all too often used phrase.  And of course why would it be otherwise?  True moments of inspiration are felt deep, and with all the senses.  If they were able to be simply written down and experienced to the same degree then this would be the death of all live events.  Thankfully words, as wonderful and varied as they are, have yet to fully convey felt moments.

And that's words, never mind numbers (not that I've got anything against numbers per se) but why on earth do our education systems seem drawn like a moth to a light in heading straight for the numeric reduction of learning to a set of numbers.

So as we approach the season of parents evenings and endless 1:1 encounters with teachers informing us that our child is at level 4a, 5b or whatever, let's try to keep sight of the real purpose of education; to inspire and challenge learners to become all they can become in every way that they are possible of becoming.  As long as we recognise that a lot of this potential is something we can't even imagine we might be on the right track.

The expectation for my son as he approaches his first birthday is that his exponential learning is just a phase and soon it will slow down to a manageable pace.  One question. Why?

Mad world

It's just dawned on me that the boy I was mentoring today owns an iPad.  He receives free school meals; meaning his family are relatively deprived economically in the UK. The cost of an iPad is the same as it would take to build a school library in Namibian primary school.

Now I like the retina screen, don't get me wrong, but the enjoyment I'd get from knowing that a load of children in Namibia were able to access books for the first time would compensate for the lack of definition on screen.

My pledge this year is to focus on purpose not tech.

Less pixels = more happiness

Let's not get carried away. No let's get completely carried away

Okay, so the last post was trying to make the point that buildings matter.  Not to be grande and unnecessary, but to be inspiring and relevant.  I stand by that and don't want this post to be read as an argument for a race to the bottom.

An old school friend Toby Tanser is applying this logic to the construction of schools in Kenya through his charity Shoe 4 Africa

The question for me about school build isn't so much about cost savings as where those cost savings go.  Let's imagine we give the budget to a UK or US school and offer the option for them to play with the design and donate a certain proportion to help build a school in Kenya through pupil-led ideas. . . .

My wife taught in Namibia for 2 years and I was amazed how far a few hundred pounds go - in one case £400 was enough to build a whole library for a rural primary school.  Now let this factor in to school planning and we might see a global connection based on expansive thinking rather than protectionism.

Learning matters?

Are children oblivious to their surroundings?  Do we somehow soak up the meta-level meaning of the buildings and spaces in which we reside?

The latest plans for schools post- BSF seem to me to take the view that nothing much happens beyond the classroom, and learning is strictly what you do in lessons.  Never mind the awe we sense when we experience a huge public space that, let's face it, is only there to impress.

And it's more than corridor crushes and crowded dining rooms; these are both valid reasons to make communal spaces light and airy and that little bit bigger than is needed.  No, it's more the statement that we make when we dictate that our schools must not inspire, or be different, or be challenging in material or design.

Not to say that this is a good thing. .. but it does make a statement that banking is a big, important thing around here.  Shame Mr Gove can't see the meta-level in the issue and not be so prescriptive.

Values and inspiration

As a volunteer mentor to a local school I have the pleasure of chatting with an eleven year old boy each week.  The aim is to support his learning and help with any problems, but of course I know I'll learn as much as I hope I can offer.

Today we got talking about football and what to do when people wind you up.  Next thing and we've moved on to talking about the Olympics and me hearing about the inspiration of Leon Baptiste visiting school.

The visit had clearly been inspiring, with Leon's story rich in dedication and determination to overcome injury and achieve his goals through sheer effort. (My charge was impressed with the the fact that Leon trained 7 days a week)

Compare this with the culture in the premier league and it's perhaps no surprise that a young boy should be turning his back on such a world and instead setting his sights on hard work and determination to succeed.

The 2012 London Olympics it seems as least for one young man has been an inspiration and a million miles away from some discussions I've had with lads of a similar age comparing how much football players are 'worth'.  I can't imagine football nor occupying a significant place in youth culture but perhaps its values are changing.  And if not perhaps they need to in order to chime with young people's natural instincts for fairness.

Connected learning

Brilliant tutorial from Olga Pandanes -how to make a cardboard sundial. Reminded me Of the wonderful project between Sheffield school of architecture and Arbourthorne primary school where the children and postgrads worked together to construct forms from packing cardboard.

Freak Out!

Still one of my favourite guitar riffs of all time, but what's that got to do with embarking on a new career developing connections through technology and the celebration of achievements?

Somewhat late in the day I know but today I discovered the work of Nile Rogers and the We Are Family foundation (WAFF).  Here's how I got there:

1. Tweet update from Michael H Levine

2. Took another look at the Joan Ganz Cooney website

3. Flicked through a couple of presentations, one citing the importance of not chasing the latest tech.

4. And so somehow there's a link to WAFF and a biog of Nile Rogers.

And what's great is that this little journey has helped re-affirm the direction of travel.  Thanks Joan, Michael and Nile. All the connections are there; you just have to be looking for them.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Fantastic work by Access Space in Sheffield

When there's this much energy who needs strategy meetings.  It just feels right.

https://vimeo.com/31084302

Ch ch ch changes

So two weeks in, having taken the plunge and become a free agent, I'd just like to say thanks to all the supportive comments from fellow entrepreneurs, start-ups and collaborators.  I'm really looking forward to connecting with people who share some of the same values and want to make a difference.
Here's to the future.

It's not just a case of "I wish I'd thought of that"

I have recently had the pleasure of meeting Jon and Johaan from Sheffield SIFE and have been inspired by their passion to make a real difference to people's lives.  Check out this Blankets for Bolivia project for a taste of their work-  sustainable technology heat seals recycled crisp packets to create blankets that prevent hypothermia.

It reminds me of Sir Ken Robinson's definition of creativity being "the process of having original ideas that add value"

Projects that meet this definition not only leave you thinking, "I wish I'd thought of that." but "I wish I'd done that!"

Pocket Praise is ready

'Pocket Praise' app is finally on the app store A simple little reward chart for your phone to help you spot, store and share moments.

It's been a long journey making a simple idea a reality, but it's been fun and we've learnt so much from the many people who have shared their ideas and time to make this happen.

We're already hearing lovely examples of how pocket praise is helping shine the spotlight on good behavious, and leave in the shadows the stuff that is so easy to pay attention to.

Pocket Praise Pod coming very soon

Pocket Praise Pod

Promote your Page too

Hello Hong Kong!

Jasmine and Girisa's PRAISE POD from kjsmovie on Vimeo.

Well done Jasmine and Girisa and a big thanks to your teachers for setting up Praise Pod in your school.  There is something universally wonderful about children's laughter. Genuine praise brings such happiness.

Attention! Prevention!

Nice one Dr. Lockey. Resus training at schools has got to make sense.
Click here for a link for more info.

Keep up the good work Andrew.

Thanks Allan

Thanks to Allan Pearcey for taking the time to comment on Sheffield Wednesday fans support at the Birmingham FA cup tie.  Here's SWFC's official acknowledgement

After a 3-0 defeat and a bad run of form it's good to feel proud of something.  Just like the child in school who gets recognised for their loyalty despite not being the best academically.  These things really matter.  Ofsted might have their league tables, as the F.A. do, but there are many realities to life on the terraces and in schools that, in many ways matter far more.  Just ask any fan of either Sheffield football team and they'll roll out fact after fact about average attendances and who's got the best set of fans.

Worth watching before any curriculum planning meeting

It's in the detail. . .

Here are the 'Praisepodians' from Grange Primary School.  We were talking about the ingredients that make a Praise Pod area feel right; lighting, warmth and warmth (one about temperature, the other about a feeling) It became clear that an amazing amount of care had gone into getting the lighting just right.  A combination of daylight, diffused by drawn blinds, combined with particular ceiling lighting created a perfect feel and avoided any glare or pixelation by the Macbook's webcam.

We instinctively know when a learning space feels right and the Praisepodians help remind us that time spent on the detail is as important as the big picture stuff.  A fab team and available at very reasonable consultancy rates for any schools deliberating lighting solutions for their Praise Pod space. . .

Secret Santa and the art of knowing

What a wonderful thing it is to be able to buy a gift for someone that tells that person they are understood.  And so it was this year as secret santa bought me a copy of 'The Spirit Level' by Richard Wilkinson and kate Pickett.  Big thanks to whoever the real santa was.

As the book explores issues of trust, health, social capital and much more related to inequality, it makes such sense that beyond fairly basic needs it's about time we looked in the mirror and were honest about what makes a healthy society.  I made a Christmas wish list the other day; cameras with more megapixels, faster lenses etc. The usual list. Then I took a peek in my camera bag and knew instantly that I already had enough kit to take good pictures.  The post purchase dissonance had already set in and I hadn't even had the pleasure of unwrapping anything.

Now the thought of making a donation to something like Toby Tanser's inspirational Shoe 4 Africa charity, and helping in some small way change lives and build the first children's hospital in Kenya; that already makes me happy.  As does donating to the Barnsley Youth Choir who help so many young people to find their voice.

Personal acts of giving, local or international; it all adds up and collectively builds trust and a climate of togetherness.  Here's to every project that works towards these ends in 2011

"Once a man be done with hunger, rich and poor are all as one" - Euripides, Electra (p3 The Spirit Level)