This great article by Lamisha Serf-Walls discusses 5 Reasons Imagination Is More Important Than Reality. Originally posted on Huffington Post, she argues that our dreams are made of imagination, and for dreams to become reality, we have to imagine them. Is it important to be in the here and now? Or is it more worthwhile…
Read More
At a time when many of us are feeling uncertain, and when national laws have to bow to those of nature, we might find ourselves thinking more deeply about our place in the world. The Cosmos TV series is about the power of looking outside oneself into the world we inhabit, and how imagination helps…
Read More
Who asked you? For some that question could be directed at the teacher, and others the children. There is constant debate about approach and policy in school curriculums – not to mention targets and quotas. While some believe in repetition and structure, others want to foster student-led learning. Is there a line between curiosity and…
Read More
We love the idea of learning agility. For us it’s not about an “amazing career” – however often that’s the goal or result – but the inclusiveness of the journey that gets us there. We’ve always been more interested in that value. Here especially, we were keen to dig into the skills “beyond automation“. It’s…
Read More
For us, one aspect of imagination is creating something that doesn’t already exist; in terms of the brain this is thinking. And seems simple when you do just that and put some thought to these findings. However, it’s fascinating that thanks to evidence of blood flow we might know more about how our ancestors practised…
Read More
What’s in a picture? A thousand words, a thousand feelings, a thousand lessons, ideas, jokes…We all know that picture books are so much more than the paper they’re drawn on. They’re some of the earliest tools for sparking imagination and learning, setting both parent and child on a lifelong journey. As this article from The New…
Read More
Learning and play is one of our key themes, so it’s always exciting to see support and initiatives blossoming in this all-important aspect of child development. Particularly interesting here is the urban angle. iOi is based in London so the challenges around creating space for children in cities’ adult-focused environment are part of our driving…
Read More
Penguins may not be able to fly, but could they be joining some of their bird cousins in talking? Well, sort of. What’s fascinating for us about this study of penguins’ language patterns is how they align with our own. Mapping primates and other creatures behaviour helps us put our own in context and learn…
Read More
Today we’re bringing you an interesting initiative from an Ontario school board. Recognising the importance of empowerment, teachers there have placed more leadership in students’ hands in the classrooms. We’re excited to see how self-directed learning helps education flourish. We live in a time of change. In fact, rapid developments can be seen in just…
Read More
We often think about the impact of technology and increased screen time on the individual, but what about communities? Of course physical devices separate us physically, and this excerpt from Kaitlin Ugolick Phillips‘ The Future of Feeling: Building Empathy in a Tech-Obsessed World asserts that they’re actually harming children’s ability to talk to one another.…
Read More
The idea of a ‘circular economy‘ seems simple – obvious even – especially when it comes to concerns around sustainability. But we’re not doing it. As this video from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation says, we “take, make and dispose”. The circular economy is what some have termed a ‘cradle to cradle‘ concept, having recognised the…
Read More