This student had drawn a detailed picture of a mine that he wanted to share with the class. He knows a lot about mines – he plays Minecraft and his dad works in the mining industry internationally. He is aware of his creativity (“I have a creative mind”) and clearly values it. But where his ideas come from is a mystery to him. He says it’s a “secret” but knows that’s not quite the right analogy:
“I have a really creative mind. And what’s behind all this, it’s just a big secret…like I just…it’s not like a secret in my family…I could tell anybody but…maybe in the future…”
He is a very self-aware child who senses, but is puzzled by, the workings of his unconscious mind and where his ideas come from.
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.