Creativity!

Taking what we learned at the Columbus Museum of Art into practice, this blog will focus on how to inspire creativity in our daily lives. Check out Elizabeth Gilbert's TED Talk on inspiring creativity on a daily basis, do a google image search for “creativity,” or watch the whole Rube Goldberg video for some starters…

For this week, I'd like to you consider and blog about the following (providing a concrete and specific example for each when applicable):

• First, do you think it's important to be creative? Why or why not?
• When was the last time you were creative or engaged in play? What were you doing? Were you working with others? (provide an example, and do NOT use the workshop as an example)

Now, drawing on your experiences from Wednesday’s workshop, consider and respond to the following (for those of you absent, just do your best to answer the questions):

1. What was your perspective on creativity before and after the workshop? Did it change? If so, how? and if not, why not?
2. Did the workshop's play activity give you any tips and techniques into incorporating creativity into your daily life? If so, please provide some examples.
3. As Creativity/Innovation is a Core Competency of BLF, how are you going to apply what you learned (or perhaps already knew) about creativity and play into this current challenge?
4. Finally, did you have fun? :)

Initiative Reflections

...and we're back!  We hope you've enjoyed your month-long hiatus from blogging.

PLEASE NOTE: This week's blog is due on Monday, March 25 - which is in 5 days.  Its four parts are listed below.

Part I
Define initiative.  What does it look like in action?  Why do we prioritize it as a BLF Area of Focus?

Part II
Interview someone (anyone) on their experience in taking initiative.  Ask questions to identify the situation, how they took initiative, and what their impact on that sitaution was.  Write a brief summary of this interview.

Part III
What were your reactions to the exeriences of the Young Alumni present at the panel and reception?  What did you learn from their stories?  How might you integrate these into your life habits?

Part IV
Please tie Parts I-III of this blog together in a meaningful manner.  What does all of this mean for your life?

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

For this week, reflect on your experience in the Teamwork Workshop from this past Saturday.  (If you were unable to be there, please choose a teamwork experience outside of BLF that was short-term).

This image is included to remind you of Saturday: cooking in random groups and producing unexpected outcomes.

For this post, please creatively answer the following questions:

• What was it like to work with your guest in a new context?  What was it like to work with fellow Fellows and your guest?
• What were your group's dynamics?  How did you observe your group processes?  Did specific personalities emerge?
• How did you go about defining your goals, strategy, and success?
• How did you fail or succeed in the various parts of your work?
• What is the value of Teamwork?  How do you make meaning of this experience?
• How will you translate what you learned into the new challenge with Mid-Ohio Foodbank?

As a reminder, this post is due Monday, February 25 at 8a.m.

Metacognition... (Thinking about Critical Thinking)

We're continuing our conversation on Critical Thinking from our workshop this week at the Columbus Museum of Art.

Part I: Critical Thinking Reflection
To continue our discussion, please share your thoughts on the following:

• What were your expectations of the workshop? What were your departing reactions?
• What was one new thing you learned at the workshop?
• Do you have anything you didn't have the opportunity to say during the workshop?
• Why do you think BLF values Critical Thinking as an "Area of Focus" for the program?
• How might you apply what you learned in your everyday experience? in the upcoming Buckeye Leadership Challenge?

Part II: Critically Thinking about Your Everyday Life

Observe
Describe
Interpret
Prove

For this second part of this blog, we ask that you apply the ODIP technique to your daily experience. Please:

1. Think of a scene you observe each day: this could be a path you walk, your desk, a perspective of your bedroom, a classroom, etc.
2. Take a picture of that scene.
3. Upload that picture to your blog.
4. Use the ODIP method to analyze your scene in a new way.

Please try to make these creative, interesting, and fun!

Reflections on the G-360

Hello Junior Class!

By this time, you have had some time to process the feedback presented in the G-360 and by your peers.  This feedback might have surprised you, been quite accurate, or indiciative of areas for growth.  As we have discussed, leadership begins with yourself.  We must all be leaders of own lives before we can begin to consider leading others.  And a great way to assess your personal leadership is to solicit feedback from others and reflect upon those perspectives.


The questions for this week are listed below.  You do not need to respond to all the questions - please answer the questions which resonate most with you:

• What were your initial reactions to the assessment and the construction of the 360-style of feedback?
• Did your results surprise you? seem to fit you well? indicate "hidden strengths"? or highlight "blind spots"?
• Describe your experience soliticting verbal feedback from your teammates. What was it like to be vulnerable to receiving feedback from others?
• Describe your experience providing verbal feedback to your teammates.  What was it like to share aloud your thoughts and observations in a constructive manner?
• Why is it important to solicit and provide feedback?
• How can we begin to practice open feedback loops with one another?
• Why does feedback contribute to personal growth?  How do you know?
• What do you plan to do with the feedback you received?

As a reminder, these blogs are due Monday, January 28 at 8a.m. sharp!  Have a great week.