DAN PRIEST

Unplugged creativity still matters in a world where most new content is being created exclusively using digital technology. As we move forward implementing 1-to-1 programs, teachers and administrators should understand that technology could not and should not make learning completely digital. There are many important ways in which technology can enable students to be creative thinkers, but there is still power in unplugging computers and making something.

 

Practical and physical projects should remain a part of the curriculum right alongside digital technology. Students need to be able to create an experience—something tangible that can be intellectual and emotional at the same time. The physical aspect of creation also encourages divergent thinking, especially when students run into problems that can only be seen in all dimensions. Students should also use less complex technology (like a paintbrush or pen) to express ideas artistically, as when approaching an abstract idea. Digital technology can help in gathering ideas in projects, but the acquiring of knowledge—the deep understanding that only comes from the time and effort of making—is at its greatest when the screen is off.