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Shailesh Mudda
Mumbai
India

Senior Software Consultant, Tieto India Pvt Ltd

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Children's schools should have an "Imagination" period

I feel,When you Imagine things, You create things.All new innovative things starts with an imagination.
Most of the people now are so engrossed in their day to day lives and their perspective have become so narrow, they hardly question things which then stops innovation.
A session/class/period where Children given a random abstract/real world topic/situation, should imagine things in their own way as they see it in their world and explain how they have interpreted it to the class.This would help expand their imaginative skill and hence creativity and would generate more ideas. And when they grow they would cultivate this as a habit and apply their ideas in the real world.

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Paul Mullins
- 0
Jun 5 2012: Yes so true Just like how Google makes their employs spend 20% of their time working on their own projects. I belive it would be very useful for me epically at my high school.
Kate Blake 50+
- +1
Jun 5 2012: yes, I agree imaginations should be ignited/excited; education should not just be about cramming information. But what about adding a quiet reflective time also with some constructive discussions afterwards on dealing more appropriately with their emotions eg anger, fear, shyness, etc.

Of course much of this should/could be initiated in their homes also like in my childhood without computers, electronic games, etc we had to invent games with whatever was available. Not the instant entertainment kids are surrounded with these days. Not saying there is anything wrong because these electronic gadgets can be used creatively too.

But time away from screens and buttons would be a good start?
David Wees
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Jun 4 2012: What I see missing from schools in terms of an imagination time is the tools students for students to be creative, and the space to store the products of their labour.

If you have seen the video about Caine's Arcade (see http://cainesarcade.com/) you'll see how a kid who is supported and provided the tools they need has the ability to be creative. Caine has space to store his stuff, a mentor to help him build it, an audience to see the results of his creativity, and the tools necessary to build.

What is missing in schools is space for students to store their stuff, and the kinds of materials they can use to build things, whether these things are made of paper and glue, or with digital tools, kids generally just don't have unfettered access to these things. It unfortunately also rare for students to have access to these things at home.

So what I think schools (or community centres) need to do is to build these spaces, provide the tools, and help mentor kids. It doesn't matter much what they build, or how they build it, just that they have space to do it. We could call these STEM clubs, or Arts clubs, or whatever, we just need to ensure that all kids get the chance that Caine had - a chance to build a piece of themselves into the world around them.
- Shailesh Mudda
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  Jun 5 2012: Thanks for sharing the information. The curiosity , the enthusiasm , the creativity , the eagerness .. that Caine has, i believe every other children has it. As you rightly said we just need to create platform to nurture them and help it prevail for lifetime. It requires support from both parents and teachers.
  
  Too much information/competition/pressure/process is killing it while they grow.. which is what we need to change.
Kat Haber 500+
- +1
TED Attendee TEDx Organizer Associate

Jun 3 2012: I am imagining what school might be like if kids were not only allowed, but encouraged to spread their ideas through TEDxYouth events they organize themselves.
Andrew Wiggin
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Jun 3 2012: I agree! Creativity is something that is not developed nor supported in school systems. However, as mentioned in a comment below the main issue is a structured "imagination time". This would almost certainly have the adverse effect of destroying the creative process. I read a book recently called "Imagine: How Creativity Work" by Jonah Lehrer. He cited an experiment about playtime. One group of kids were allowed to have a playtime, and another group was not. Kids that were allowed to have a "playtime" performed substantially better on all forms of testing, and were shown to be vastly more creative. The results were actually so compelling that the experiment was cut short. They did not deem it fair for the other kids not have a "playtime".

Therefore, it is necessary for our kids to have an unstructured playtime. Imagination cannot turned on and off, it must be allowed to flow through unstructured thought, freedom of expression, and just basic downtime. This is where creativity is born. It is as simple as letting it be born.
Gu E
- +2
Jun 2 2012: This is a really interesting topic! While reading the comments below I found myself both agreeing with this proposal of having a period of time dedicated to imagination - based on the fact that I too believe it is imperative/beneficial and worthy of emphasis in schools... and disagreeing with it - specifically based on the "how to" part.

(Y) I completely agree that imagination and creative thinking should be taken more seriously and should be supported since it is an integral part of our development-- like developing critical thinking skills.

(N) However, I do find pause with the notion of having a scheduled time in school dedicated to imagination. I worry that a scheduled time for imagination would turn what is already replicable in any subject into just another class (e.g. imagination starts at 9 and ends at 10 am M-F); structure and routine can dull motivation.

....

Personally, imagination for me was already being heavily promoted in some of my classes (depending on my teacher and the class)- I was encouraged to use my imagination. Some teachers already try to support this in their teaching.

I propose that maybe instead of creating a time-slot, we should focus more on encouraging TEACHERS to incorporate imagination/creativity in the way they instruct and the way students approach the material - and to take it more seriously.

Furthermore, since imagination comes rather easily to children -- the actual task would be to ensure that "being imaginative/creative" REMAINS with us.

Therefore, the RESPONSIBILITY of promoting imagination, ensuring its cultivation and maintenance (making it habit-forming) would have to fall on TEACHERS and PARENTS.
In order to maintain this from childhood into adulthood- we need to build a society that first recognizes imagination/creativity as being important enough to emphasize its practice throughout education.

Lastly, I don't believe that imagination dies with age, we just evoke it in different ways, degrees, and moments.
- Jonathon Compton
  - +1
  Jun 3 2012: GU:
  
  I think you hit the nail on the head when you brought "TEACHERS" into your discussion.
  
  Two of my most favorite teachers in school were instrumental in nurturing our imagination/creativity --
  
  One, was my 7th-8th grade math teacher. He would begin each class period with the same statement, every day: "I'll take your questions or comments if you have any". There were many days we never even got to talk about our matho homework, because the class was discussing current events of the day, or discussing science, or history. I remember watching the Challenger explode while sitting in his class. We all had questions, and while he didn't have answers, he allowed us to ask the questions.
  
  My next favorite teacher was our H.S. physics teacher. We were always digging through his cabinets and looking for experiments we could do. He even helped us run an engine on compressed hydrogen in 1988. That was awesome!
  
  And yes, as a parent today, I constantly encourage my children to read, write, ask, draw, hypothesize, theorize, in everything we do. I love watching them think about things in a different way or a newly explained manner.
Scott Armstrong 50+
- +1
Jun 2 2012: These days, people seem to be confusing learning with schooling.

I think you'll find that the best way to encourage this is to set up the school playground in order to encourage imaginative play. Kids do this naturally.

To have an "imagination class" will do to imagination what Ken Robinson has been banging on about. School will externalise the process, break it down to a dull method and then begin to chastise students for not imagining the "right" way.
- Gu E
  - 0
  Jun 2 2012: I completely agree, its not a matter of scheduling in some time so that imagination flourishes or is drawn out - especially since children do it all the time. Its more a question of keeping it alive as we grow up ...this is a matter of learning (inside and out of school)
Roger Chapanis
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Jun 2 2012: I share your interest in an "imagination" period in schools, but I'm concerned that children might judge or criticize each other for their ideas unless clear, measurable, guidelines are established to promote feelings of safety.

For maximum safety initially, this imagination period could be started at in the childrens'' homes. For instance, parents and their children could raise a problem at the breakfast table, and then when they get together for their evening meal, each could relate his/her solution to the problem. This would be very similar to Ralph Nader's upbringing. (Note: Ralph Nader is the consumer advocate known world wide for his creative and forward-thinking ideas.)

For details about Ralph Nader, I invite you to view "An Unreasonable Man," -- a fascinating biography of Ralph Nader's life.
Rosa Park 500+
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TEDx Organizer

Jun 2 2012: I genuinely agree with your suggestion. As a student grows older, he/she is faced with more and more school works. Their routine becomes go to school, eat, study, break, study, sleep. (I know this because I am a student) As this process goes on, students lose time to think for themselves and increase/expand their imagination. After all, the main point of school is to prepare a person with the knowledge they need to be able to achieve their dreams and goals later in life. Without imagination, they will not be able to construct their dreams and goals. Therefore, I believe that it would be a beneficial 'coarse' or 'period' to be added into a school. However, I would like to know how this period would be taught by a teacher? What types of exercises? Imagination, as many would agree, is not something you can teach. It's something you bring out of a person. Therefore, it might be difficult for it to be done. So, I ask you, how?
Thomas Conant
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Jun 2 2012: While I definitely see the merit in this idea, I feel as though it is in some ways a redundant Idea. I by no means claim to be an expert in education, with only one year as a Kindergarten teacher under my belt, but in my time teaching I found a plethora of opportunities to expose the children to exactly that which you are proposing. Just about every subject that I taught had the potential to challenge the child's creative capabilities, and whether or not I put emphasis on this was totally my decision as the teacher.
All of this is to say that I feel the dedication of an entire class to creativity practice is defiantly looking in the right direction, but will not at all be as effective as allowing/ asking the teachers to spread the practice of this skill throughout their classes.
Thabiso Mofokeng
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Jun 2 2012: It's a great idea because at the core of imagination, is a person who knows what they want & who they are. Too many people are so caught up in the everyday grind of life that it's hard to take a breather & take stock of what's happening & one's role in it. You ask any immensely succesful person who worked his way from a bottom up scenario & they will all tell you that the most important ingredient in their pursuit to success is love for what they did. Love is a powerfull tool in that it eliminates doubts & fears. That's why entrepreneurs & inventors keep pushing because they are so in love with their purpose that to the observer, this person has unshakable faith. Which is true, but it's not in the face of doubt because doubt, failure, uncertainty & fear no longer apply when a purpose is driven by love. Faith, definiteness & bravery all come automatically when directed towards a thing of passion. You just know that it's going to work out. Men know what I mean. That time when they saw their wives to be, even before they met them they knew the end result. They didn't bother with the process, just the result. You only get that kind of certainty in love. So it's really important that you know who you are as a person, know what you love by getting in touch with your feelings, then in the silence of contemplation...your imagination will show itself.
Adarsh Narayan
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Jun 1 2012: Imagination is helped by a spark, a catalyst. When one sees a plane or a bird take off, it is then one's imagination travels further. The school or any other process should have a spark to ignite that process. Note also that the same spark, can ignite imagination process in different directions in different persons. If all those are not nurtured, a difficult task on its own, some sparks will die. If a person has had the experience of spawning many imaginative processes in his/her mind, and none have been nurtured, then his/her imaginative capabilities will slowly go to sleep. A spark after that has little impact on that person.
Jim Moonan 30+
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Jun 1 2012: I go back and forth about this.... the growth of the imagination is so crucial to human development and happiness that it almost transcends the confines of school. It should be a cultural/societal value that is visible in all we do and all we hold important.

But on the other hand, what better way to draw attention to it's importance than to formally recognize it as a valuable skill to develop by making it a basic requirement as a subject throughout a person's formal education years?

I go back and forth, back and forth...

Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
Hilton Barlach
- +1
Jun 1 2012: You are absolutely right!!!
Children are naturally imaginative but as time goes by they lose this way of being until they become quasi robots like most of us...
I always see parents of small children at the kindergarten screaming: don’t do this!!! Don’t do that!!! Don’t jump!!! Don’t climb!!! Don’t get dirty!!!
What kind of education are these parents giving their children???
- Adarsh Narayan
  - +2
  Jun 1 2012: Your observation is right on. Parents tend to say that. The reason is that they have been told that, but did not question their parents as to why. This is an old traditional way of keeping control. Control itself is an outdated concept. But since we have not shown interest in learning something, the only thing that gives us satisfaction is control
  
  Most people do not have a hobby or any alternate way to relax or something that will keep them interested or involved during their spare time. Many a time then trivial things take up an important position in their life. Instead of contributing, they take away.
  
  So with education we get, we need to gain wisdom on our own. Which in turn will tell us that we need to teach and inspire others and not control and kill their inspiration.
Ankit Sethi
- 0
Jun 1 2012: I studied in Apeejay School in New Delhi. And we had an hour long imagination class once a week.
Matheus Campos
- +4
May 30 2012: Hello guys,

Have you ever heard about Escola da Ponte? It's a school in Portugal, that doens't have a regular schedule or something in this way. So there is no bells separating classes, the kids have a tutor who helps them in specifical projects that they decided to study. The result: brilliant students. Why? Imagination.
Fakhriddin Abdullayev 10+
- 0
Associate

May 30 2012: Hey Kaitlyn, I think it is possible to be creative other than art.. I think there is an approach to everything but to me, it seems all have the same root. For example, we can talk about teaching, programming, solving a problem. I believe Richard Feynman, Nicola Tesla, Steve Jobs, Steven Pinker, Malcolm Gladwell and many others, were/are creative not only art, but also in their lives.
What do you think? Have you met a person like that?
Thank you for your question!!!
Kaitlyn Fox
- +1
May 30 2012: I agree that schools should have an imagination period! I am going in to 6th grade and I get to choose my classes, and I would definitely choose "Imagination" for one of them! The class would be about our ideas instead of Isaac Newton's! I would even like to teach the class! I think if I had a whole 55 minutes to imagine and spread my ideas I would even kiss my teacher's shoes! But you don't have to have a teacher... I have so many ideas going on in my head right now! This is a great idea!!!!! I absolutely LOVE it!!! Great idea!
Taqwa Salah Warrag
- 0
May 30 2012: Teaching the "Alchemist" book to kids in schools would be awesome! not just for widenning their imaginations, but also to give them the courage to seek their dreams.
Lyndal Carbery
- +1
May 30 2012: Edward de Bono's lateral thinking ideas - such as six thinking hats help to break down creative and practical ideas.
Thinkers Keys are another tool that is heavily based on imaginative solutions and thinking outside the box and they are activities you can give 5 minutes time to or an hour, depending on how deep you want to go with your exploration. I think there are lots of strategies, tools and resources out there, as well as whatever you have like trees, a piece of paper etc..
I think the point made here about dumbing down kids is so right. That to me, as a primary teacher, is the main problem I see in why kids are not being more imaginative and creative (as in creating something).
If you are an enthusiastic, engaged teacher/parent then you can use many opportunities throughout the day to draw out childrens natural curiosuty and creativity.
You can be creative in maths, science and English. Not just art, drama and dance.
I think the idea of imaginative time though is a good one.
max golding
- 0
May 29 2012: Jeez what good ideas in here... I just wanted to remind folks that teaching kids starts at home with parents, and so I wanted to offer this article that's been helpful for me
http://www.psychalive.org/2012/02/if-all-you-have-is-a-hammer-everything-looks-like-a-nail-by-debra-kessler-psy-d/
which is about punishment and communication with your kids

hopefully not too off topic
Shawn Tanaka
- 0
May 29 2012: I totally agree with the proposition you have laid out!
When children are encouraged to imagine a variety of things at such a young age, it allows them to gain a variety of interests at a young age, which influences curiosity and is something we need to drive the future generations, because sadly it seems as if they lack interests in a "variety" of subject material.

Even though I just finished high school, it appears as though many students lack ability to find interest in subject matter that is foreign or different from the normal activities they currently engage themselves in.

I agree, in the sense that this should become integrated in the curriculum for schools. Lets spread the word!
Christopher Mimnagh
- 0
May 29 2012: http://www.curiousminds.org.uk/creative-schools-in-the-north-west-help-boost-uk-economy
Fakhriddin,
I should have said curious nt creative minds!
I an UK based, my wife is a teacher and her school became involved in this work a few years ago.
Good results coming through.
Chris ,
- Shailesh Mudda
  - 0
  May 31 2012: Thanks for sharing it with us.It really feels good that "Curiousminds" are successful in their creative movement.I went through their work.I loved it. I would really want them to reach out to other countries and share their experience and help others adopt.
Fakhriddin Abdullayev 10+
- 0
Associate

May 29 2012: That is an excellent idea!!!
Schools should have imagination/creative classes. It would be very useful both students and teachers. As funny as it seems to me, most schools make students take certain subjects. I think, a real life example can be how people work at Google. Not only they get to do what company wants, but also they can do what they like/want to do.
Jim Moonan 30+
- +2
May 29 2012: Using music as a teaching tool is also an excellent way to spark imagination in learning, especially for elementary grades ( but also possible at any age). Just think of what music does to us, how it has the power to change us. It only stands to reason that it could be harnessed to do the same in education.
Jim Moonan 30+
- 0
May 29 2012: I believe that teachers need to develop a teaching style that is at once entertaining and informative. This is what ignites a child's imagination as much as anything else (although much work needs to be done to reform/recalibrate curricula to reflect the technology explosion and it's effect on education.
- Fakhriddin Abdullayev 10+
  - 0
  Associate
  
  May 29 2012: Do you think there there can be certain teaching methods? For example, one student find her/his teacher teach, but others do not like that. How teachers should deal with diversity?
  Thank you!
  - William Notation
    
    +2
    May 30 2012: There can be certain teaching methods but these are, at best, starting points to "seeding" learning in the classroom and other settings. It is rare that any given method or approach works consistently even when working with a single student - we all change a bit each day. Effective teaching depends on constant negotiation between teacher and student. Sometimes the negotiation centers on the immediate content to be learned, other times on the contexts or methods. In considering diversity, perhaps we need to stop thinking about differences alone. As a teacher, I look for what a student and I may have in common and ways to leverage that to facilitate learning. Sometimes it does not take much - maybe only one song, a movie, or favorite food - to start a conversation, build a connection. I find it is more effective to establish a "learning partnership" with each student individually rather than treat students as members of a class that I teach as a single unit. It can be slow going at times but it is worth the effort. Early in the school year, there is sometimes more relationship building than "learning". However, later on, the quality of learning is so much better that it compensates for a slow start.
Christopher Mimnagh
- +2
May 28 2012: I appreciate the sentiment, that creativity should be encouraged, but would suggest that the whole curriculum should move towards a creative approach, the work of "Creative Minds" social enterprise in the UK has been developing creative curricula in primary schools in the UK.
Perhaps designating a time to creativity risks fostering an idea that it is not mainstream to b creative.
Good teachers build on innate creativity, rules delete it. Sausage and trifle is excellent food until you are told it's "wrong".
Chris
PS- try it...
- Fakhriddin Abdullayev 10+
  - 0
  Associate
  
  May 29 2012: Christopher, that is great what the U.K i has to develop creativity. I checked out a web site:
  Ho did you learn about this project? Or do you live in U.K?
  Is it? http://www.creativemindsltd.co.uk/ . If so , I love that!!!
  Thank you!
  - Kaitlyn Fox
    
    0
    May 30 2012: Fakhriddin,
    I think that the Creative Minds website is perfect for inspiring kids to make art! Do you have any ideas about how to be creative in ways other than art?
- Aaron Hay
  - 0
  Jun 1 2012: Christopher, sausage and trifle may be the best thing anyone has ever tasted as long as they have the creative confidence to try them paired together. I think that creative confidence is something that should be cherished and built up in schools by taking the time to listen to the child. I know that I am most engaged and alive in a classroom when my voice and ideas are heard. Classrooms need to welcome new ideas rather than having a rack for students to rest their creative caps when they walk in the door.
Michele Kelly
- +1
May 28 2012: An imagination period would be a great addition to a schoolday. Environment would be very important. If they could be surrounded by music or sculpture, a reading of a poem or a yoga move ... then these experiences could help them segueway from "doing" to "thinking." If we can reduce the white noise of their day and allow them to be centered in an imagination period, well, just imagine the possibilities we are enabling them to create.
Rhona Pavis 50+
- 0
May 26 2012: Good idea, Shallesh. Thank you for expressing it here and sharing it with us. Maybe some teachers will see this and implement it in their classrooms. Anything positive is possible. Happy Today.
Kareem Garriga
- +2
May 26 2012: You can have teachers ask students to think of 5 things they know are impossible and then think of a way to make each possible. Do this every day, It's an awesome thought exercise

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