Ep. 103 - Destination Imagination, with Adam Law

BIG PICTURE Social Emotional Learning Podcast

We hear a lot in educational circles about preparing today’s youth for the future, most often in terms of increasing academic scores and achievements, but Destination Imagination casts an even wider net, by inspiring and equipping Kindergartners - 12th graders to imagine, innovate and collaboratively problem solve, with peers, while focusing on STEAM challenges.

Some of the Social Emotional values that naturally develop for kids when they participate in Destination Imagination challenges include collaboration, respect, perseverance, and integrity… and in the short time we had for this conversation, we were able to dig deep into how those values are evoked and exercised.

The leadership team at Destination Imagination (DI) is self-described as small but mighty. It was my extreme good fortune to share conversation with Adam Law, who currently serves as Director of Affiliate Relations, and who grew up participating in DI challenges, year after year. His enthusiasm is deep and deeply contagious.

From the DESTINATION IMAGINATION website:

We inspire young people to imagine and innovate today so they become the creative and collaborative leaders of tomorrow.

As parents and educators, our most important goal is to prepare our kids for the future. In Destination Imagination (DI), students work together in teams to solve open-ended STEAM challenges designed to teach the creative process. Why is that important?

The creative process is a step-by-step approach that helps students better understand problems and ask better questions, come up with solutions, learn from failure, and celebrate their achievements.

In going through this process, kids learn vital life and career skills—creative thinking, critical thinking, public speaking, and collaborative problem-solving—that help them feel empowered and set them up for success in their future.

Each Challenge season, we produce one Early Learning Team Challenge designed for preschool through 2nd grade. Early Learning teams will work over several weeks or months on a solution or presentation, which they will present at a DI tournament for feedback, kudos and standing ovations! These teams will not be ranked or scored in any way.

And here's the link to the Big Picture SEL Podcast Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BigPictureSocialEmotionaLifeskillsPodcast

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