Is creativity the No.1 skill for the 21st century?

This from Mark Batey in Psychology Today.

Against a backdrop of uncertainty, economic turmoil and unprecedented change a new picture is emerging of the skills and traits for success (and perhaps even simply survival) in the modern era. At the heart of this essential skillset for the future lies... creativity.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/working-creativity/201102/is-creativity-the-number-1-skill-the-21st-century

Innovations that will change tomorrow

We tend to rewrite the histories of technological innovation, making myths about a guy who had a great idea that changed the world. In reality, though, innovation isn’t the goal; it’s everything that gets you there. It’s bad financial decisions and blueprints for machines that weren’t built until decades later. It’s the important leaps forward that synthesize lots of ideas, and it’s the belly-up failures that teach us what not to do.http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/06/03/magazine/innovations-issue.htm

Creativity is not what it used to be

Dimis Michaelides' thoughts on creativity
http://www.dimis.org/

How to avoid stupid 'best practices'

Stephen Shapiro on avoiding 'best pratices'.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/video/avoid-best-practices-stupid-14660596

Learning to Change

The future for schools?
http://www.schooltube.com/video/003fa63af9c844f1b824/Learning-to-Change

Music for Change

Music for change - check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xjPODksI08

The Creative Edge

The Creative Edge is both the name of this blog and my new workbook. Over time I am going to put excerpts from the book on this blog. The book, by the way, can be ordered directly from me - wayne@future-edge.co.nz or through the Creative Skills Training Council http://www.cstc-apa.com/creativity-for-sale/

The Creative Edge

All change happens at the edge and creativity is about change.
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For me, creativity is the stuff you do at the edges. But the edges are different for everyone, and the edges change over time. Stuff that would have been creative last year isn't creative at all today, because it's not near the edges any more.

“The most fertile region [in the mind’s inner landscape] seems to be the marshy shore, the borderline between sleep and full awakening and where the matrices of disciplined thought are already operating but have not yet sufficiently hardened to obstruct the dreamlike fluidity of imagination.” Arthur Koestler

If you want to be creative, understand that you'll need to get to the edges, even if the edges have moved. Being creative means immediately going to the place the last person left off.

“Creative thinking takes place neither inside the box nor outside the box, but at the edges of the box.” Chris Bilton Management and Creativity

Creativity is about pushing the boundaries. It is not possible to be comfortable and creative at the same time. All creativity takes place at the meeting point between different worlds.

“Sometimes when you think you are done, it is just the edge of beginning. Probably that's why we decide we're done. It's getting too scary. We are touching down onto something real. It is beyond the point when you think you are done that often something strong comes out.” Natalie Goldberg

We all live within a box of possibilities whose edge is formed by inner judgments, attitudes and beliefs. When we are conscious of these habits of mind and behaviour, we expand the box, continue the journey, and experience a sense of heightened satisfaction and fulfilment. With an expanded box of possibilities, we will better understand how to face life’s challenges with a creative mindset.

“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you can see all kinds of things you can’t see from the centre.” Kurt Vonnegut Jr

“When you have come to the edge of all the light you have
And step into the darkness of the unknown
Believe that one of the two will happen to you
Either you'll find something solid to stand on
Or you'll be taught how to fly!” Richard Bach

"Come to the edge," he said. They said, "We are afraid."
"Come to the edge," he said. They came. He pushed them . . . and they flew." Guillaume Appollinaire

How Edgy Are You?

Where are the edges of your current knowledge and abilities?

How have they shifted from a few years ago?

How do you challenge yourself to keep things fresh and exciting?

The Art of Change

Put 25 people in a church hall, give them a range of materials and some brief instructions and you have the recipe for creative transformation.

Jonathan and Alice from the Learning Connexion helped us to explore a transformational process that could then be applied to other areas of our lives.

The workshop's stated goal was for each participant to "identify the idea of fun through creative art processes, crossing sensory boundaries - from thought into dialogue and written word; from 2D and 3D art processes into public commentary, and evaluation of the transformational process itself."

After setting the topic "What gives you the most fun/joy/celebration in your life?" Alice walked us through a bunch of questions to get us to involve all our senses - questions like:

• What do you do for fun? Why
  


• What does it feel like?



• What does it smell like?
  


• What does it taste like?



• What does it sound like?



• What movement, shape, touch, sense captures this?

We played with our theme using 2D materials in the morning and 3D materials in the afternoon. People surprised themselves. Check it out if the workshop comes to a place near you. More information on http://www.tlc.ac.nz/