02.05.11

02.05.11, originally uploaded by colemama.

Silk filaments create lacy patterns and provide structure for dew drops in the early morning rays of light. Wonders are created and recreated daily in the tapestry of nature. Wandering along the visual (as well as auditory) delights got me to thinking about the tenets of consumption versus creation.

Before the widespread (and usually, wasteful) 'materials' economy (watch The Story of Stuff for a great review of the concept), folks use to make their own to survive. It was a hard life and not something wished for now, but it does make one think about how much we've become slaves to consumption. We are willing to let anyone/anything else do most everything for us - from providing basic nutritional needs to entertainment. To some degree, we have buried the desire for self-sufficiency. Perhaps that is why it is more difficult to justify time spent on creative thinking?

A presentation at the 2011 Florida Educational Technology Conference by Cheryl Lemke noted the overlap and interactivity between critical thinking (an aspiration of educational standards) and creativity (represented in the arts and often the first on the chopping block when budgets are tight). Perhaps the evidence will help allow more priority on 'creating' rather than just 'consuming' in our typical school classroom. Freedom Park, Naples, FL