Innovate2Create

This is an EXCELLENT book. It took me longer than I intended to read it because it is packed with so many great principles and activities. I have been comparing it to the things I have been learning in my class about learning and the brain and Daniel Pink really brings the science to life in very interesting and practical ways. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who creates curriculum. There are a ton of ideas that I will be using for my grad project to help students develop both L-brain and R-brain thinking.

1. What lessons can you learn from this book about creativity and innovation?
Yin needs yang and a WHOLE new mind using both the left and right brain yields the best in creativity in innovation. Pink asserts also that Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning are the six senses of "Whole" mind thinking. I see applications in course/curriculum development for all six as a teacher and as a student. This book has motivated me to be more creative in my approach to learning and rememebring what I've learned. Very helpful!

2. Give an example of how creativity or innovation occurred in this book.
The application sections with 3-5 pages of exercises, websites, and activities to put what Pink is teaching immediately into action are awesome. I am planning to use some of them in the course I am teaching next semester. I also like this teaching style that allows creativity in the application of the principles taught. No two student assignments would look the same using these type of practice or testing activities. Everyone could express their unique ideas and thoughts.

3. How does thinking with a whole new mind contribute to happiness? How are creativity and innovation related to happiness?
The last section of the book is about Meaning. I believe that everyone is searching for meaning and that learning to discover who you are, where you fit in and how you can best contribute are key principles in discovering meaning. Pink quotes the Dali Lama who said "I believe the very purpose of our life is happiness." I agree with this but would caution those who believe happiness is found in material possessions, fame or notieriety. I believe that spirtuality, faith and prayer are essential to happiness because they connect us to God, the Father of the universe, who is perfectly able to create and innovate. He will show us how to find meaning and happiness in our lives if we ask. He will teach us about who we really are. Creativity and innovation are full expressions of who we really are. They extend to more in our lives than the ability to solve problems and create new business ideas. Being involved in the innovation process changes me as I participate in the exciting discovery process because it teaches me about my unlimited potential to grow, change, excel and contribute. These feelings contribute greatly to my ability to find and maintain a feeling of meaning in my life regardless of my life circumstances. In the meaning section, one of the activities Pink suggests is to show gratitude by participating in a gratitude visit. I have done something similar to this with my parents and it was a powerful experience that increased the meaning in my life. I would not be where I am or have been able to accomplish all that I have without the support and generous help of my parents. I am forever grateful that they have taught me and continue to support my efforts to succeed. Creativity and innovation are open-minded and hopeful ways of thinking that lead us to happiness when we allow faith rather than fear to ensue within us and lead us along to great discovery and the ability to make a difference. Every person can happily make a difference and I think creativity and innovation that invoke spiritual meaning in life are foundational elements for happiness and peace in life.

I have been facinated recently by the use of contests in education and business to facilitate innovative thinking and problem solving. Here is a link to a business/management problem solving contest that is meant to motivate professionals and business professors to think about old problems in new ways and share innovative solutions! I think this is a great teaching strategy as well!!!!!

Here is another Ted Talk that I don't want to lose track of. Interesting arguement for innovation from the advertising and marketing arena. I have some ideas I'd like to explore in my current business venture where this type of perception reframing could have a lot of value. It still seems innovative me as well even though a new product or service is not being created. It seems that this type of perception shift in education could be huge where we may or may not truly need to reinvent the wheel!

Great Ted talk recommended to me by a friend of mine. One thing I've enjoyed about exploring creativity in more depth is improving my design skills. I appreciate this video and Mr. Brown's suggestion to disruptively innovate rather than incremently improve design. A similar thesis to that presented in the first book I read titled "Disrupting Class" about the changes required in educatonal design and delivery. I've been thinking about how these principles apply to clothing design or dresses for women. One thing I've seen on Nordstrom.com is the ability to shop for a dress based on body type and the website shows you the ones that should look best on you. This is a great innovation using technology to improve shopping and help women make more flattering selections which in turn will help increase their confidence. Design thinking is tailoring an experience for customers or students that helps them be their very best! It seems to that this creates a bigger impact because the focus is taken off of the object itself, the dress, and transferred to a more design thinking methodology that is focused on an EXPERIENCE rather than just an item of clothing. I am considering what else design thinking can do to inform this process of designing personalized, customized clothing and how using design thinking in a similar manner allows us to create more customized educational experiences for students that "fit" and "flatter" in a way that is economically viable.

Check out this Ted talk for more on this great topic...