Curiosity and Project Play

I've read some of my colleagues' entries on this topic and agree that I was more curious when I was younger. I was always a reader and loved to learn. But the first 12 years of school seemed like an exercise in conformity. College followed, and it wasn't until my Senior year as an undergrad that I finally "got it" - then I began asking more questions and conversing with my professors - I was no longer just a "sponge". When I entered graduate school several years later, I really had the time of my life. I felt alive, curious, ready to take on the world! I enjoyed my 9 years of professional work before becoming a stay at home parent. I spent 10 years "at home" and have come to some cynical conclusions.

I think most schools can stifle curiosity and creativity. I became certain of this after having my son 12 years ago. My husband and I knew early on that he was gifted, and once he entered school and was identified as such, we had to become active advocates for his education within a system set up for status quo mediocrity. I'm glad to say some things have improved and he's doing well. My point is that mediocrity and the status quo are safe comfort zones for most of us. It's easy to become intellectually lazy. I am finding that while I spent much time fostering my son's curiosity and intellectual growth, my own interests were put on the back burner. Plus, I've found that I'm not as passionate about the things I used to be. Library issues and personal interests that sparked me in my 20s have changed over time. Marriage, parenting, and aging have all influenced the way I look at things now. My priorities have sharpened and my interests/passions have veered in new directions. At first I mourned these changes, probably because I grieved the loss of youthful idealism. But lately I've recognized that change is a good thing, and I'm curious to find out what I will truly be when I grow up! Read: I'm CURIOUS! As I approach 50, my path is changing, and I'm ready to "wake up" intellectually again.

I think Seth Godin made some very good points - I've long believed that TV is a great wasteland. Although I would miss the things we watch on Discovery, History, and Science (and yes, TVLand!), I've been trying to get my hubby to junk the TV. Sigh. Anyway, I agree with Seth that curiosity has nothing to do with income or education. Some of the most interesting and creative people my husband and I have met over the years lacked so-called formal education. They pushed the envelope, tried new approaches to problems, created incredible music, stories, solutions to problems - they were truly curious and reached beyond themselves with little fear. Perhaps a healthy dose of self-confidence needs to go hand-in-hand with curiosity. Otherwise, how can a curious person fight off the surrounding voices of conformity and mediocrity?

I feel like Project Play has become my new classroom for my Adult Education. I've looked at technologies I've never seen or heard of before, and some I like, and some I don't, and that's OKAY. What's important is that I'm LOOKING, and LEARNING, and yes, even PLAYING now!
I feel the strong urge to see what else is out there - and not just on the Web. While the new technologies may be the future - and I accept that the computer is here to stay - there is still something to be said for nurturing connections with PEOPLE, not just COMPUTERS. I want to nurture my curiosity by finding things on the Internet pertinent to my interests and passions, and then DO these things, not just READ about them.

I, too, will miss the Project Play assignments and look forward to whatever the coordinators come up with. Thank so much for what you have shared with us and for all your hard work! On my part, I plan to keep my blog active (if anyone's interested), and will subscribe to some of the library rss feeds mentioned in the closing assignment sheet. I'll also check out Go2Wb20 and eHub to see what's there. I've copied off the weekly assignment sheets and plan to revisit some of the sites - I'm still a little dense about widgets, for instance - and I want to look at more of the example sites provided. I've even gotten into the daily habit of checking my bloglines for the new feeds - see, I've come a long way, baby!