Subject: SD and Creativity

Posted by Ralph Brauer on 10/12/2010

Message:

In work with schools across the country we found that much of the problem with nurturing creativity was systemic: if you have a system that is designed to turn out standardized "parts"--which is the root of the current system--that encourages conformity, not creativity. High stakes testing only serves to reinforce this defective mental model. One solution to this was advocated by the supplemental report to A Nation at Risk and by Jay Forrester's former colleague and my former boss, the late Bill Norris. Bill and the report advocated that every child have a personal learning plan much as special ed students are required to have an IEP. Bill believed that computer technology could make this possible and put a great deal of his own money into designing such a system.
Several school districts including Central Kitsap in Washington and Chittenden in Vermont did develop computer-based personal learning plans. Chittenden's was especially interesting in that it relied on Microsoft Access. In both cases these personal plans were also accompanied by multi-aged classrooms. Several other districts experimented with this including Westside in Omaha, Blue Valley in Kansas City and Staples in Minnesota. As far as I know most of these experiments died for various reasons.

Many years ago a group of us that included Lees Stuntz put together a proposal for the Department of Education that focused on creativity by bringing together system dynamics and personal plans. The plan was favorably reviewed and recommended for funding but died with Clinton/Gingrich budget cuts. Perhaps some of you in the younger generation reading this might be willing to give the idea another try.
It certainly is needed now more than ever. If someone reading this want to take another crack at it, I certainly would be willing to share our proposal.

As for Jay Forrester's remark about farms and creativity the historical literature about both famous and obscure late nineteenth century inventors that created a remarkable explosion of science and invention in this country shows that virtually all of them came from farm backgrounds. The theory is that if properly nurtured by their parents farm children were constantly experimenting. I had the privilege of hearing an oral history interview with Dr. Forrester that was part of a project to interview the creators of early computers like the Whirlwind.
In that interview he talks about experimenting while growing up on the farm. Bill Norris, who founded Control Data, kept the original homestead grant for his family's farm right by his desk.


The experiences of the consortium I worked with suggest that a systemic solution to creativity in schools would require the following: first, and most important, use of system dynamics in the curriculum. Even though I am a "believer" I know of no other process that meets A Nation At Risk's call for students skilled in thinking systemically, or what Barry Richmond termed "Systems Citizens." Second, you need personal learning plans because students have individualized needs and opportunities for using system dynamics. Third, you need something like the school model we developed with Jeff Potash and John Heinbokel to help better understand system resources. Fourth, multi-aging, especially in elementary school, breaks down the rigid and largely meaningless grade divisions. Some elementary students can do calculus, others struggle with long division.
Fifth, as Lew Rhodes used to constantly preach, any change must be district-based and have the support of both principals and district level staff, especially the superintendent and, of course, the school board. Sixth, Jeff and John's "ladder of engagement" is an extremely useful way of thinking about system dynamics in these contexts. For example, it could easily become the focus for a systems-centered personal plan.

Follow Ups:

SD and Creativity - Sharon Villines 10/12/2010 
SD and Creativity - Ralph Brauer 10/12/2010
SD and Creativity - Kathy Arizmendi 10/12/2010
SD and Creativity - Sharon Villines 10/12/2010
SD and Creativity - Kathy Arizmendi 10/12/2010