Class 08: Observing Creativity, Innovation, & Research
Summary: We spoke in pairs about how observation leads to creative ideas and innovation, but we didn’t get to view the videos, so we can view them in Class 09. Then I gave a preview of the writing assignment and answered any questions you had about it.
New vocabulary: Hawthorne Effect, Pavlovian, lupin flower, pigeon, tactic, cynical, discrete
Science Pet. (2014, August 18). Observations and inferences. [Video]. Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBlR7taW9jk
Denver, C. (2009, October 4). Test your observational skills. [Video]. Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAFfYLR_IRY
Attachments:
Homework due at 1 pm before Class 09: There are two parts to the homework. Please read and take notes on Chapter 3 observation first, and then decide what you want to observe for your report second. There is time in Monday’s class to revise part two of your homework.
Please read and take about four pages of notes in keywords only in Chapter 4, Discovery Skill #3 Observing in:
Dyer, J., Gregersen, H., & Christensen, C. (2019). Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the five
skills of disruptive innovators. Harvard Business School Press.
Notes for Your Observation Paper Step by Step (in the Google Doc for Class 09): Please think about this activity after you read chapter four. We can finish this homework in class, but could you think of some ideas that you would like to observe?
a) Please select an issue that you would like to observe that is interesting to you.
b) Reflect on your own experiences about what you have learned about creativity and observing skills by reviewing your notes.
c) Please answer what you would like to observe in two or three detailed sentences for each question:
1. Who?
2. What?
3. Where?
4. When?
5. Why?
6. How?
Here is one sample of an observation proposal.
There will be a lot of time to reflect and write about this in class.
Class 06: Four Creative Discovery Skills
Summary: We discussed flow through all-class and pairwork activities about how “flow” is related to creativity and input discovery skills. Then we reviewed the discovery skills and from the readings in pairs and the whole class as well. You reflected on what skills you are good at and what skills are somewhat new to you. Listening to your observations about yourself was interesting!
Dyer, J., Gregersen, H., & Christensen, C. (2019). Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the five skills of disruptive innovators. Harvard
Business School Press.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkcGqZIZp8&list=PLKaF-rnKfpxMEVi3Icr7yxIhyvDoiwx7H&index=2
Homework due on Tuesday after lunch, the day before Class 07:
- Please read and take about four pages of notes in keywords only in Chapter 1, The DNA of Disruptive Innovators:
Dyer, J., Gregersen, H., & Christensen, C. (2019). Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the five skills of disruptive innovators. Harvard Business School Press.
2. Homework all quarter: Freerice.com (20%) –> Goal 4,000 points
This homework is ongoing and entertaining: your four-skills logs of self-study of your choice on English subjects within the Free Rice Programme. We can fight climate change, feed hungry children and families for free, while learning English too! Please get your code to create an account in the class.
Class 05: Find Your Creative Flow
Summary: As a creative visual introduction to finding flow, we viewed this inspiring video by J. Silva:
Silva, J. (2013, July 30). Find your creative flow [Video file]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXwLsba2TOY
Students got into pairs or groups of three to discuss finding flow based on chapter three of this reading:
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1997). Finding flow: The psychology of engagement with everyday life. Basic Books.
Our discussions were based on these questions:
- Based on the readings, what does ‘flow’ mean to you?
- How do you feel about the quality of the experience of doing everyday activities?
- How do you feel when you do different things?
- Which of the examples of people in their daily lives was interesting to you? Why?
New Vocabulary: probe, perimeter, adjacent, hover, virtuoso, eureka, lateral prefrontal cortex, estatic, numinous, imaginal, rhapsody, thicket, alacrity, dim
Homework due on Tuesday at 1 pm, the day before Class 06:
- Please view and take two pages of notes on:
Please your Google Drive upload file to insert your photos of your notes in one document. For videos, It is very useful to include the timestamp of when you use quotations of Csikszentmihalyi’s talk next to the notes, so that you can find your work easily for your creativity observation midterm report.
2. Please read and take notes on chapter 1 of (the copy is in my office door box).
Glaveanu, V. (2021). Creativity: A very short introduction (Chapter 1). Oxford University Press.
3. Homework all quarter: Freerice.com (20%) –> Goal 4,000 points
This homework is very fun and ongoing, as your self-study of your choice in subjects within the Free Rice Programme. We can fight climate change, feed hungry children and families for free, while learning English too!
Class 04: Flow & Creativity
Summary:
We viewed and discussed David Kelly’s TED talk about fostering creative confidence.
New vocabulary: obscure, improvise, innate, self-efficacy, Professor Bandura at Stanford, opt-out, anesthesiology, stuffed animal (plush toy), IDEO is David Kelly’s Company, the D School is at Stanford University
Kelley, D. (2012, March). How to build your creative confidence [Video]. TED
Conference. http://www.ted.com/talks/david_kelley_how_to_build_your_creative_confidence?language=en
Homework due on Tuesday by the end of lunchtime at 1 pm so I can check your work in advance:
Please read and take about 3-5 pages of notes on:
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1997). Finding flow: The psychology of engagement with everyday life. Basic Books.
If you are absent, I will leave the chapter in my office box.
Please upload your file to your Google Drive to insert your photos into this one document. Please use the same Document that you uploaded your Kelly (2012, March) notes. All homework notes are compiled in the same document.
Homework all quarter: Freerice.com (20%) –> Goal 4,000 points
This homework is ongoing and fun, as it involves your four-skills logs of self-study on English subjects within the Free Rice Programme. We can fight climate change, feed hungry children and families for free, while learning English too! Please get your code to create an account in the class.
Class 02: Building Creative Confidence
Summary: I continued to introduce some of the readings and viewings for the course, while conducting a few simple creativity exercises to keep us thinking critically and engaging in a bit of play at the same time. Then, you discussed your homework in pairs and groups. Finally, we made sure you understand what the homework is.
Keywords: Pain points
Loh, P. S. (2023, Dec. 9). How to be a creative thinker: Carnegie Mellon University Po-Shen Loh [Video]. EO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpYA7WXkHyI
Homework due by 1 pm the day before Class 03:
Please click the ‘show more’ button, then click ‘show transcript’ to read the full interview. Additionally, click the ‘cc’ section at the lower right area of the video to read the transcripts in real-time.
Homework all quarter: Freerice.com (20%) –> Goal 4,000 points
This homework is ongoing and very fun, as it involves your four-skills logs of self-study on English subjects of your choice within the Free Rice Programme. We can fight climate change, feed hungry children and families for free, and even learn English along the way! Please get your code to create an account in the class.
Class_05: Equity Education & Grit
Summary: Today, we discussed reading Carol Dweck’s article on growth mindsets and Cobb. Some themes that came up were the person’s right to pursue their happiness, be productive, and be confident to share skills and knowledge with others (in education, work, and life).
Here are exciting videos related to the Dweck (2010) reading:
Spencer, J. (2017, March 27). Growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset. [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1CHPnZfFmU
Brainology program video introduction:
Brainology. (2010, November 26). Brainology program introduction video [Video].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF5yB31IT5Y
Dweck, C. S. (2010). Mind-sets. Principal Leadership, 10(5), 26-29.
Then we reviewed Angela Lee Duckworth’s research on grit and the connection to growth mindsets:
Duckworth, A. L. (2011, July). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. [Video]. Ted
Conference.
Homework due at 13:00 the day before Class_06 in your Google Doc:
1. Complete your three-question reflection in your Google Doc share file.
2. Please read and take 2 to 3 pages of notes on keywords from a source you haven’t viewed or read yet.
Duckworth, A. L. (2011, July). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. [Video]. TED
Conference. https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance
or
Spencer, J. (2017, March 27). Growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset. [Video]. YouTube.
Future readings, if you want to work ahead:
Alternatives to School. (2017). Benefits of self-directed learning. Alternatives to School.
http://alternativestoschool.com/articles/benefits-self-directed-learning/
Association for Psychological Science. (2012, October 4). What makes self-directed learning effective? ScienceDaily.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121004134843.htm
Fink, J. W. W. (1999). True grit: 10 tips for promoting strength, resilience, and perseverance among your students. Instructor, 26-31.
Psychology Today. (2024). Grit. Sussex Publishers. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/grit
Duckworth, A. (2018, December 14). What is grit [Video]? Parent and Team.
Lyon, R. (2015, March 30). The challenges and benefits of unschooling. International Center for Home Education Research Reviews. https://icher.org/blog/?p=1647
Lastly, an option to play Freerice.com: This United Nations project website has 60 levels of English vocabulary to learn and develop. For each correct vocabulary word comprehended, Free Rice will donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Programme to help end hunger, so students can learn new words and also contribute to reducing world hunger at the same time. And the levels of difficulty range from low to very high, so it is also suitable for teachers. There are also various subjects, including English Grammar and SAT Test Preparation. And amusingly, the site has a warning that claims this game may make the person smarter! http://freerice.com/#/englishvocabulary/1424
Your Free Rice goal for the semester is 5,000 points!
Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Course description
In this course you will carry out projects, individually, in pairs or small groups, into global issues and problems that interest you, and how they impact local communities and people you know. Problems might include investigating fairtrade products in local businesses, exploring local government support for minorities, looking at people’s attitudes and concerns about artificial intelligence in daily life, finding out how local organisations are putting into action Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and so on. You will do a minimum of 3 projects in one year (at least two in the spring semester and one in the fall), with journaling a key continuous process in each project.
Your research will include gathering information and making notes from both material (e.g., books, library, documents, audio-visual materials) and online sources (e.g., web searches, databases, other e-sources, including online videos and podcasts) in order to develop your understanding. You will also talk with “close others” (other students, family members, people in local communities, or local networks that you belong to). At the end of each project, you will create a product (e.g., an academic essay, blog posts, an opinion piece, visual report, or webpage) that can reach an audience beyond your class (e.g., with other classes, in public spaces, and/or in web-based products) so that you can share results from your project with other people.
この科目では、個々の学生が関心を持ったグローバルな諸問題に関してプロジェクトを遂行し、それらが身近なコミュニティや周囲の人々にどのような影響を与えるかについて、ペアやグループワークを通して探究します。プロジェクトの例として、地域に根差したビジネスとフェア・トレード製品をテーマに調査したり、地方自治体とマイノリティ支援策、日々の生活におけるA I活用の課題、地方自治体が主導する持続可能な目標の実践例など、他にも様々なテーマが考えられます。１年間のコースでは、３つ以上のプロジェクトを遂行し（春学期２つ秋学期１つ、以上）、調査の過程や結果などを逐次記録することが求められます。
調査では、資料（書籍、図書館、文書、視聴覚資料）やオンライン（検索、データベース、ビデオやポッドキャストなどのその他電子資料）を活用した情報収集とノートテイキングを行います。加えて、「身近な他者」（学生友達、家族、近隣住民、や所属する地域ネットワーク）へのインタビューも行うことになります。プロジェクトの終盤では、調査結果を成果物（学術論文、ブログ、意見書、ヴィジュアルレポートや、ウェブページ）にまとめ、教室の外の人々（他クラスの学生や、公共の場、ウェブなど）に向けて調査結果を広く発信します。
Student Group Research
Poverty in the World and Japan Has an Urgent Assignment for the Global Society
How Can We Solve Discrimination Problems? Focusing on the Japanese Situation
What are Refugees and How Do We Solve This Problem?
Autumn Semester
Research Cycle 3 (Weeks 1~5): Editorials, Opinions, Calls for action
Develop starter questions, and find “overview” sources.
PBL_Class 02: Focus on communities/regions within Japan on 10/02/2023.
PBL_Class 03: Collect personal stories; research local actors on 10/09/2023.
PBL_Class 05: Complete editorial, opinion piece, or call-for-action on 10/23/2023.
Research Cycle 4 (Weeks 6~14): Visual Reports, Websites, Forums
PBL_Class 08: Develop knowledge of the issue globally on 11/20/2023.
PBL_Class 09: Focus on local communities/groups within Japan on 11/27/2023.
PBL_Class 10: Focus on solutions and suggestions for improving the issue on 12/04/2023.
PBL_Class 11: Putting all the group content together in sections on 12/11/2023.
PBL_Class 14: Feedback and final reflections; semester review 01/15/2024.
Spring Semester
PBL Class 02: Researching Globally: Based on the issue you chose in Class 01 on 4/17/2023
PBL Class 03: Focus on One or Two Affected Communities on 04/24/2023
PBL Class 04: Collect Local Stories From Communities on Your Issue on 05/08/2023
PBL Class 05: Actors on the Issue (NGOs, local NPOs, Activists) on 05/15/2023
PBL Class 06: Outline and First Draft of your Narrative on 05/22/2023
PBL Class 07 & Class 08: Finalize Your Research Narrative Blogs on 05/29/2023 & 06/05/2023
PBL Class 09: Your Academic Blog Going Live: An Easier Blog on 06/12/2023
PBL Class 10: Blogging and an Introduction to Cycle 2 on 06/19/2023
PBL Class 11: Cycle 2 Blog Slideshow Practice for Group 1 on 06/26/2023
PBL Class 12: Cycle 2 Blog Presentations for Group 1 & Slideshow Practice for Group 2 on 07/03/2023
PBL Class 13: Cycle 2 Blog Presentations for Group 2 on 07/10/2023
PBL Class 14: Surveys and Reflections for the Spring Semester on 07/17/2023
English Resource Center (ERC): In-Person or Online
ERC News! I present about the ERC in Kyoto in May 2023!
The 2022 ERC Halloween In-Person & Online: The English celebration was massive & with spooky masks!
ERC 2nd Quarter 2022 In-Person. It’s the Place to be, the ERC! We Support your English.
Growing The Team
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