http://themoth.org/posts/stories/lego-crimes
This hilarious story "Lego Crimes" (from "The Moth", go check it out) is an example of 3 powerful powerful lessons:
In his classic book "The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization", Peter Senge described the value of "micro-worlds" as arena's for corporate executives to experiment with big, scary decisions. He was mostly referring to computer models and programs which simulate the real world. The best part of micro-worlds, though is that participants could observe the consequences without feeling the consequences.
Classrooms are micro-worlds in themselves (and this will be a theme on this blog): places where we can experiment with new world orders, economies, roles, rules and more. In this story, students feel the consequences for their actions in a way that is creative and new and customized to their situation and "world" (classroom). Imagine if our justice system was more like this! Which brings me to ...
(Q for the reader: what would you like to test in a micro-world? Many urban schools practice inter-ethnic and inter-cultural peace without realizing it ... perhaps a icro model for world peace?)
The universal practice of improvising is commonly defined: "making something out of nothing". The Brave New Workshop believes improvisation can "increase learning, innovation, leadership, creativity and productivity". In fact, they travel and teach this to CEOs and business professionals worldwide.
Why do these executives demand "improv" training? Because of something many teachers know: it works. Working with people means you are forced to be either a good improviser or mediocre (bad) at what you do. The most meaningful learning in my school-age came from teachers who adapted their curriculum or teaching to meet my learning needs.
(Q for the reader: When was a time you had to improvise in your personal or professional life?)
I rarely meet a teacher who can resist telling a great story when I ask "tell me about your students ... any interesting things happening in the classroom?" Teachers are natural story-tellers. In fact, story-telling is probably one of our most instinctual forms of teaching.
Literacy is a relatively new thing in human history - especially at today's rates. It used to be that lessons and achievement happend from stories. The modern trend of being a reflective practitioner rests on this notion that reliving our own stories and experiences, and those of others, can make us stronger. And the quicker we do it successfully, the quicker we can move forward in new ways to greater levels of success no matter the subject or setting.
(Q for the reader: What's your favorite classroom story?)
