This student learned to make duct tape wallets from YouTube videos and has pursued this new interest with considerable tenacity. This is not a school project but rather an at home interest that he has shared with his teacher and classmates.
From the outset, he combined features from different videos. He also sought ideas from new sources; for example, from real wallets, and incorporated these features into the duct tape model. He gradually added and mastered new techniques; e.g., stenciling and weaving, and experimented with colour and style, constantly setting himself new challenges. The student has written about his creative process wallet by wallet for his first efforts.
He currently produces and sells wallets that are customized wallets for friends, family members and classmates:
"Presently, people ask me for specifically designed and colour schemed wallets. I follow a combination of processes described below. Wallet making has been a step-by-step, technique building creative process for me. Through investment of research, time, effort and trial and error I have reached a point where I am capable of creating unique and individual "customized" wallets."
His teacher has interviewed him about this project. At one point she asks him if he feels he should be given school time to work on this interest and his answer is a resounding, “Yes!”.
I can get new ideas in areas in which I have an interest and build my skills to make them work.
I generate new ideas as I pursue my interests. I deliberately learn a lot about something; e.g., by doing research, talking to others, or practicing, so that I am able to generate new ideas about it, or the ideas just pop into my head. I build the skills I need to make my ideas work, and usually succeed, even if it takes a few tries.