In this video , Steven Johnson talks about how creative ideas and innovation mostly come from a liquid network wherein ideas are a part of a larger network of people and connections. Our ideas do not really come in flashes of lightning but these are thoughts that have already been brewing in our minds over long periods of time and just illuminated upon conversations with friends.
This morning I paused and took some time out to reflect on my own eureka moments and the circumstances that led me to them.
I thought about the recent dinosaur unit that we had ended with our second graders and how successful all our activities turned out ! I realized that this success was brought about by lots of creative ideas and collaboration between me and my partner teacher.
I thought about my final project in this course which my professor and I came up with and how I presented the idea to my principal and our librarians just a week ago. The expression in their eyes and their positive vibe showed me how excited they were to start working together.
I thought about the school yearbook which my colleague and I are currently working on and how the ideas of the students who work alongside with us have created beautiful pages to share with our school community .
I thought about the successful reward system that my son’s teacher, my husband and I have come up with during PTC’s to solve a recurring behavior problem at home.
I think the common factor in all of my successful AHA moments is that I always collaborated with other people to cultivate my ideas and make them real.
I totally agree with Steven Johnson that organizations should create an environment that is conducive to creativity. However, because of time constraints in the workplace, we hardly get the chance, as a faculty, to sit together and do this.
If there’s one thing I’d like to have in our work place, it would be one common faculty time each week to get together and just share ideas over a nice cup of coffee. Who knows? Another amazing idea might just be brewin’ !
Thank you !