A
“Virtual Creativity Playground” for Children
To sustain the dynamism of the New Economy, it
is imperative that the next generation be more creative, imaginative,
innovative, cooperative and artistic. To achieve this objective, ICAF
is developing a Virtual Creativity Playground (VCP) for children.
Development
& Creativity
Recent brain research shows that during childhood, billions of synapses
or connections between neurons are developed that lay the creative
and communications groundwork for future learning. Many experts believe
that creative potential may actually diminish with age. Consequently,
if creativity is ignored or repressed during childhood, a unique opportunity
is lost. Many experts agree that the 8-12 year old age group faces
the highest risk in terms of the sustainability of creativity. This
age group falls into a specific development stage, sometimes referred
to as the “concrete operations stage.” This is a period
of intense intellectual growth when concept dominates perception,
and not the other way around. Intellectual realism gives way to visual
realism and children become able to organize materials on a higher,
more general, level. If the “Creativity Risk” faced by this
age group is not addressed, children are likely to conform and remain
“inside the box rather than explore freely, believing that “ideas
are divine,” as did Aristotle.
Necessary
but not Sufficient
Formal schooling does not ensure that a child’s creativity is
nurtured or celebrated. Actually, limits are placed on children's
creativity by educational systems that encourage imitation in learning
rather than spontaneity and creative imagination. Teachers are generally
interested only in the capability of students to provide “correct”
answers to questions, not in rectifying the mental process that results
in “incorrect” answers. Indeed, nearly all teachers recognize
the importance of creativity but do not have the necessary tools or
time at their disposal to carefully nurture it. At the same time,
the misuse of after-school hours by children, even aimlessly surfing
the web, is becoming a growing problem. Fortunately, the internet
can be harnessed for the benefit of children and their communities.
Digital
and Information Revolution
Art is a dynamic channel for creativity; art sparks the imagination
that fuels creativity. Art programs alone, however, cannot reverse
the “Creativity Risk” faced by children. Today, the Internet
is growing increasingly popular and powerful with children as a communicational,
informational, educational and community-building medium. The Internet
is a vast untapped resource as a creativity platform. It is child-friendly
and can be used to nurture creativity. The potential of the Internet,
to be a platform for children's creativity and a vehicle to integrate
every child with his or her community, needs to be harnessed.
The
Role of ICAF
ICAF is one of the few organizations in the world focusing specifically
on the 8- to 12- year-old children. Through its ChildArt & Creativity
Program, ICAF has identified creative children in the United States
and another 85 countries. Many of these creative children are ICAF
Members and subscribe to ICAF's ChildArt magazine. ICAF continues
to develop relationships with national entities, school systems and
children around the world. We expect these groups and people to form
the core of initial contributors to the VCP. Additionally, ICAF has
formed an to oversee the development of the VCP.
VCP
Content
ICAF's Website under-development — ChildrensCreativity.org —
the proposed VCP, will be a place where children's aesthetic awareness,
creativity and artistic skills are challenged, enhanced, displayed
and analyzed. It will provide a safe and risk-free environment for
children to “play” with their imagination. Children will
utilize the website playground to develop their ideas and share their
creativity with other children across the United States and around
the world. They will learn about the power of ideas. The VCP site
will be free of bias, so children everywhere will feel safe and welcome.
The site's universality is fueled by the conviction that everyone
has the gift of creativity and should have access to a variety of
avenues to express it. The site will present the world as seen through
the eyes of children, and will strive to provide a safe atmosphere
that encourages utilization of the tools for creativity that are provided.
The site will include areas aimed directly at children and other areas
that provide support for adults (especially parents and teachers)
who desire to help children to develop their creativity. Strict standards
of privacy and age-appropriate content will be maintained.
Several content areas are envisioned. Initial
work is being conducted in the following areas:
- Toolshed: A “digital
playground” where children can find and manipulate a variety
of tools for creative expression.
- Projects: “Mini-sites”
created around online projects. Examples include:
- Global Children’s
Digital Mosaic: Imagine a picture, built on a theme, in which
each pixel is itself a picture created by a child.
- Online Music Exchange:
Organized around a succession of themes, a place where children
both donate and listen to sounds from their lives.
- Writing Homes:
Think of a publication space, thematic story exchanges and examinations,
online poetry “slams,” and a digital “salon”
where children can talk and work with authors and experts, as well
as each other.
- Forum: A monitored,
web-based discussion area where children can talk with others throughout
the world. A separate area will be provided for adults engaged in
working with children to exchange information and ideas about children's
art and creativity.
- Post: A news area
centered on cultural happenings for children throughout the world.
Staff will develop content but children will be encouraged to share
materials about local cultural events and festivals in their own
local areas.
- Children’s Resource
Bank: An area linking children to online resources, such as
tools, virtual museums or other cultural organizations, and art,
dance, drama, music and science web pages. Staff will preview and
periodically review all links for appropriate nature of content.
-
Adult
Resource Bank: A place for adults engaged in supporting children’s
creative development to find stimulating materials to use with
the children. Members of the user community will be encouraged
to submit “success stories,” activities, lesson plans,
etc. for inclusion in this area. Staff will also be engaged in
content development for the area.
In accordance with its own operating philosophy,
ICAF will incorporate the creativity, viewpoints, thoughts and dreams
of children into every aspect of the design and operations of this
site.
VCP
Partners
To make this Initiative a reality, ICAF is inviting technology companies,
academic institutions, foundations and related nonprofit organizations
to become partners with ICAF in the development of the VCP. Currently,
discussions are on going with several potential partners, including
technology companies and their employees. With your involvement, we
can make a unique contribution in making the world a better place
for children.
Should you or your organization have an interest
in supporting or participating in the VCP, please contact Dr. Ashfaq
Ishaq at .
