The Importance of Idleness
May 18, 2008This animation is a great example of what happens when you start with a simple process and no strict guidelines, resulting in a visual stream of consciousness:
This artist probably identified a number of characters, possibly from previous animations and allowed the freedom of the architecture and his/her playful imagination.
In teaching, we are encouraged to plan all aspects of learning from identifying key aims and objectives to monitoring and evaluating. However, this cycle can become very draining for the creative mind as it requires a time-based, analytical thought process; it leaves little time for spontaneity, an essential ingredient in taking risks and being imaginative.
In school, we don’t have enough periods when students can be autonomous and organise their own learning. Instead, we leave such independent learning to extra-curricular clubs and non-assessed activities outside of school. In my view, this is a wasted opportunity and we should be more strategic by giving students space to be idle, make mistakes,etc.. in a supportive educational context.
Tags: idleness
