A new round of Learning Creative Learning or LCL started on Wednesday, October 9th and I joined. It is an online community organized by the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab, led by Mitch Resnick. It aims to connect and share ideas with people around the world with similar goals, visions, and values. There is an opportunity for like-minded educators and learners to meet one another and share ideas, strategies, and practical tips on how to support creative learning (LCL Website).
First week, we discuss the Lifelong Kindergarten approach and share a childhood object. I thought about some objects from my childhood that interested and influenced me.
I loved to make a Mini 4WD which was sold by Tamiya Inc., one of the Japanese manufacturers of plastic model kits. This kit includes some parts of plastic model racing cars, a motor and grease. I enjoyed assembling while imaging the accomplished figure. After completion I played racing with boys. As they have lots of know how about motors, gears, and grease, we discussed how we could race our cars faster.
I also liked ZOIDS sold by Takara Tomy, a Japanese toy manufacturer. ZOIDS, as a coined word derived from English “ZOIC ANDROIDS”, are assembled toys as a motif of animals and dinosaurs with a gimmick such as walking and weapon operation using a motor. I enjoyed the process of creation and imagined the story those animals/dinosaurs fought and won the evil. Because there was a small person and operated the animal/dinosaur inside ZOIDS, I imagined as if I were inside and operated it.
These plays affect the way my think and learn as follows.
- I assembled parts according to the instructions.
- I considered why and how I can solve it when I got through difficulties.
- I played in the imagination world.
- I empathized with my friends.