Serious Play

What is this site about?

I've long been inspired by an idea I first learned about in The Artist's Way called morning pages. Morning pages are three pages of writing done every day, typically encouraged to be in "long hand", typically done in the morning, that can be about anything and everything that comes into your head. It's about getting it all out of your head, and is not supposed to be edited or censored in any way. The idea is that if you can get in the habit of writing three pages a day, that it will help clear your mind and get the ideas flowing for the rest of the day. Unlike many of the other exercises in that book, I found that this one actually worked and was really really useful.

I've used the exercise as a great way to think out loud without having to worry about half-formed ideas, random tangents, private stuff, and all the other things in our heads that we often filter out before ever voicing them or writing about them. It's a daily brain dump. Over time, I've found that it's also very helpful as a tool to get thoughts going that have become stuck, or to help get to the bottom of a rotten mood.

 

750 Words is the online, future-ified, fun-ified translation of this exercise. Here's how it works...

 

I almost always listen to music while I write.  While I read too, for that matter, but especially while I write.  It seems to act as a trigger, a way for my mind to recognize that we're crossing over from the real to the imagined; the mundane to the fantastic.

Do you benefit from listening to music while you write?  Do you have a go-to CD or artist or song?  Has a piece of music ever inspired a story or character for you?

Stereotypes and Divergent Thinking

 

Nurturing divergent thinking in studio art classes
How do I, as an art teacher work at nurturing a culture of divergent thinking in studio artwork?

 

http://people.goshen.edu/~marvinpb/11-13-01/Effects-of-Stereotypes.html

 

Creativity happens when you let it, not when you try to force it. That’s why you get your best ideas when running or showering. Your mind is typically in neutral in those situations and ideas seem to occur spontaneously. So, what can you do to put your mind in neutral and spark some creativity?

You can go on an urban photo adventure. Instead of just seeing your city, observe it. Look at things you’ve passed by hundreds of times, but in a different way.

Here are a few suggestions to guide your photo excursion...

Chic Thompson shows how to generate ideas anytime, anyplace by conducting a one-person DIY brainstorm session with divergent thinking.

This binder contains lots of interactive art games for kids!

Encyclopedia of improv games, improv terms, formats, and references. Whole site can be downloaded as a PFD booklet.

 

Improv Encyclopedia is the largest collection or resources for improvization theater on the web. Here you will find tons of stuff related to improvization theatre.

For those not particularly looking for improv-related material we feature:

Icebreakers: games or activities that help "break the ice" at events where there are lots of people who don't know each otherWarm-ups: games to get people in a playful moodgames and exercises to promote group Group Trustexercises and games to encourage Spontaneitylots of drama and theater Games

Involve People As Soon As They Arrive

There is nothing worse than (effectively) asking people – students, training participants, conference delegates, etc – to wait for the official start to your class or program.

Some people will arrive ‘on time,’ but by far the largest majority of your group will arrive before orafter the prescribed start time.

 

But, there IS a massive benefit to actively occupying the early ones. Not only will a series of optional ‘arrival’ activities invite the early-birds to interact, feel comfortable and have fun, but this energy will be a powerful magnet for others to make an effort to arrive earlier next time.

Storytelling and dancing Adam Stępiński

Um blog onde o Clube das Histórias coloca histórias de que gosta e que quer partilhar. Sirva-se e dê-lhes vida! Quer também recebê-las por email? Procura histórias sobre um algum tema ou para um fim específico? Escreva-nos! Os nossos objectivos são meramente pedagógicos, sem qualquer interesse financeiro.

Through this zine we present stories of courage and creativity sourced from people like you and me, living, working, being courageously creative and changing themselves and others in our community. Our writers come from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life - they are small business owners, state employees, corporate CEOs, non-profit founders and volunteers, professionals, scientists, sociologists, artists, activists, mothers and fathers, and friends.

Sometimes you sit down and plan an activity you will be doing with your children. You brainstorm what you will do during the activity along with alternative ways you can use it. There are other times you just grab a roll of tape and see what you can make with it.  That is just what happened with this zigzag learning maze. When I sat on the floor with roll of tape I had no idea what the maze would look like and no idea of how we would use it.  Boy, have we found wonderful ways to use this zigzag learning maze! Actually we found 19 ways to use this zigzag learning maze.

These fun, mostly free tools can help educators easily create their own Infographics, and bring a very modern twist to instruction.

"Active listening is a critical communication skill and it is important to know how to do it. This exercise has been designed in such a way that encourages delegates to pay their utmost attention while engaged in a conversation. The exercise forces delegates to stay focused throughout the activity and be ready to contribute when necessary."

These two activities are wonderful problem solvers. Keypunch deals with effective group process. Blind Line Up will challenge their communication skills.

Type of Initiative: Problem-Solving

 

Props: 25 Numbered Rubber Discs

 

Aim of the Game: To line up in the correct order from the lowest number to the highest number without talking and with their eyes closed. 

 

Playing the Game: Each participant is asked to take a Disc, look at the number and put it in their pocket. Ask them not to share their number with anyone else in the group. Distribute blindfolds to those participants who have trouble keeping their eyes closed. The objective is for the participants to line up in order from lowest number to the highest number with their eyes closed, and without talking. They may not strategize before beginning. Inform them that they must be able to prove to themselves and to you the facilitator that they are in the right order before the activity is over.  Encourage the participants to put their 'bumpers up' to avoid any collisions with other participants. Also let them know that you will be watching the group so that no one wanders off with their eyes closed. Anytime you ask someone to close their eyes you should do a safety talk about boundaries and safe environments.

 

Most of the time groups will start out by milling about trying to tap their number out on someone's shoulder. Eventually someone will figure out clapping their number so that they can be communicating with more than one person at a time. If the group gets pretty close but are not quite there it is good to ask for a show of hands if they think they are right before they open their eyes. You can give them feedback such as, "There is one person that does not think the group is in the right order, how can you prove to the group that you are in the correct order?" Usually this will result in one more round of sequential clapping to prove that they are in the right order.

 

Debriefing topics:

How did you try to communicate your number to the group?What was frustrating about this activity?How did it feel to have your eyes closed?How did other's behaviors in the group affect your performance?How does this experience mirror day to day communication?   

Shows how something extraordinary can be achieved, provided we have some more time. :-)

TeK Extras Sugestões - Há cada vez mais recursos online para quem quiser reforçar a sua formação. Entre ofertas gratuitas e pagas, a escolha é vasta, mas nem todas garantem a desejada certificação.

Presentation on digital storytelling in the EFL classroom from Tegucigalapa conference, May 2008