To Create is to Liberate
As we continue to endure the ebb and flow of a crippling pandemic, I was given the opportunity to “freedom dream”, in the words of Bettina Love, around the topic of liberation and creativity.
As part of the Stanford d.school Masters of Creativity series, I had the pleasure to be a panelist with my friends and colleagues Kwaku Aning, Mike Strong, and Eric Chagala. Thanks to my amazing friend and mentor, Laura McBain, we dove into an inspiring conversation around the topic, “Liberation Through Creativity.” The panel was hosted by Jeremy Utley as part of a Stanford d.school Executive Education partnership with the d.school K12 lab.
Why liberation and creativity?
It’s time to change the programming. School has traditionally served to uphold the status quo.
I believe that creativity is the mechanism for innovation. It’s so important because without it, we are bound by the way things have always been. When we imagine what could be it is the most liberating idea we can foster. When we open the door to creativity we unleash students’ potential to make something that wasn’t there before. Anyone can be creative if allowed the space, time and freedom to grow, learn, try, and make.
Takeaways from my fellow Ed-disruptors:
I hope that you’ll find a connection to what we shared during our panel discussion. Here are just a few of my takeaways from the conversation that we had.
- Mike Strong, Director of Professional Learning & Curriculum at Escondido Union High School District:
- Design for “nudged systems that are more just and more joyful” [and] “get there with as many players as possible knowing the truth.”
- Eric Chagala, founding principal of the Vista Innovation & Design Academy (VIDA):
- Bring “in the community members so we can unlock the souls of the people here to liberate them in a joyful way.”
- “Understand the system… so that you can leverage it against itself.”
- Kwaku Aning, Director, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking:
- “Get rid of the process of GPS learning… what is the quickest way to… we need to go on a long journey to make a bunch of mistakes… create the context for what the right answer is… and this is what you have to know.”
- “The focus is about helping kids design a path in life that they can feel they have meaning, purpose and are a part of society… that they matter”
On disrupting your own thinking and mindset
“We can’t disrupt our own institutions and organizations, before we disrupt ourselves.” – Comment from the audience.
“Constantly put ourselves in the place of feeling uncomfortable.” – Kwaku Aning
“Sharing the moment..share with the person who is closer to being the user we’re working for… and who has less status.” – Mike Strong.
“Models build creativity… [educators should] be provided examples of what they can do… get out into the world.” – Eric Chagala
“Increasing variation… and optimize for luck.” – Jeremy Utley
Inspiration for the road ahead
My incredible fellow panelists are innovative disrupters of education and are deeply committed to improving education for all learners. I hope that you can glean as much inspiration as I did.
“What’s the magic sauce that you bring to your work to cultivate a creative mindset?” – Laura McBain.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on twitter @creativepbl
Read more about my work with other Education Conferences and Panels.