Underlying traditional kindergarten activities is a spiraling learning process in which children imagine what they want to do, create a project based on their ideas (using blocks, finger paint, or other materials), play with their creations, share their ideas and creations with others, and reflect on their experiences — all of which leads them to imagine new ideas and new projects. This iterative learning process is ideal preparation for today’s fast-changing society, in which people must continually come up with innovative solutions to unexpected situations in their lives.
I found this link while reading another post and realized how true it was, and that anything that I’ve learned that I use and like using has been learned through this model. I learned how to do databases in a class that was basically structured around creating databases, reflecting on them, and creating more. My ministry experience can pretty much fit this paradigm as well. It’s a history of dreaming, creating, reflecting and dreaming again.
Am I the only one who resonates with this? Have you had an education experience that fits this model, what did you think? For those of you who do teaching or training of some sort, have you ever used a similar structure?
I’ve always wanted to be one of those bloggers who had a “Speaking Schedule” on their website. And really, I don’t have one now, but I am going to be speaking to a group of teens at a local community center. They are doing a series on loving your neighbor and I’ll specifically be talking about loving across cultures.
If you are so inclined, please say a prayer for me this evening.
Carlos Whittaker of Ragamuffin Soul invited Andrew Marin of Love is an Orientation (both blogs are on my reader and are pretty good)to answer a hypothetical question:
If a fat man can lead a church, serve on a church staff, and not be held responsible for his lack of self discipline when it comes to gluttony…
Then why can’t a gay man lead a church, serve on a church staff and not be held responsible for his lack of self discipline when it comes to homosexuality?
“When people told themselves their past with stories, explained the present with stories, foretold the future with stories, the best place by the fire was kept for The Storyteller” - From the opening of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller
As becomes pretty clear to anyone who knows me. I love the work of Jim Henson. I grew up watching The Muppet Show, Muppets Tonight, Sesame Street and The Storyteller. One of the things I love about Henson’s work is the story he tells. Before you ask, I know that there are many movies that tell many different stories, but I’m talking about the story beneath those stories. Here’s a couple other quotes from It’s Not Easy Being Green And Other Things To Consider
“I believe that we can use television and film to be an influence for good; that we can help shape the thoughts of children and adults in a positive way. As it turned out, I am very prowd of some of the work we’ve done, and I think we can do many more good things” - Jim Henson
“Jim wanted to make a difference. He was brave enough to be able to say, “I want to do a show that brings peace to the world, and I want us all to sit down and talk about it.” He knew that television shows do not bring peace to the world, but he was not so cynical as to say we can’t think about it. There was a kind of idealism there that could seem naive and childlike, but that didn’t mean that it couldn’t come true” - Jerry Juhl
“I know that it’s easier to portray a world’s filled with cynicism and anger, where problems are solved with violence. That’s titillating. It’s an easy out. What’s a whole lot tougher is to offer alternatives, to present other ways conflicts can be resolved, and to show that you can have a positive impact on your world. To do that, you have to put yourself out on a limb, take chances, and run the risk of being called a do-gooder” – Jim Henson
It’s easy to see how Henson’s principles were explicitly and implicitly woven into his stories, and he did not sacrifice his art in order to do so.
“I really do believe that all of you are at the beginning of a wonderful journey. As you start traveling down that road of life, remember this: There are never enough comfort stops. The places you’re going to are never on the map. And once you get that map out, you won’t be able to refold it no matter how smart you are.
“So forget the map, roll down the windows, and whenever you can, pull over and have a picnic with a pig. And if you can help it, never fly as cargo” – Kermit
What’s my point? I believe stories do change the world. Unfortunately, for a long time, those who care about doing good things abandoned the art of storytelling, because what they were doing was a Very Important Thing and that meant that it was too serious for storytelling. I would propose that this is exactly the wrong impulse.
I would propose, to my fellow world-changers that it is because what you are doing is a Very Important Thing, that you need to tell stories about it.
