Re: Drew 2/8/11

In Drew's latest post, he humorously addressed how Americans are monotonously confined within boxes, which contradicts the popular proverb: Think outside the box. He ends with the question, "Are we afraid of exiting the box because of our fear of changing social structures?"

To think outside the box is to think in an innovative fashion, unrestrained by the conventional. In short, to come up with ideas that no one else thinks of. Social structure does dismantle unconventional thinking to a large extent. Let's take for example a classroom situation where the students are brainstorming topics to discus throughout the semester. Unconsciously, their ideas are shaped by conditioned conventional thought that has been crystallized throughout their life. Also, before a student raises their hand to suggest an idea, they consider their peers' opinions. If they predict others will not like their thought, chances of them sharing it are lowered. Teachers are partly to blame too because they may give a student an attitude when they do not consider their view to be a good one. When students see this happening, it reinforces their caution.
I do not think that we are afraid of changing social structures, because one person alone cannot change part of or the entire social structure of a society in most cases. (You would have to be trying very hard, or be in a state of political power.) Yet, we are afraid of breaking social structure and norms. Humans are social animals, who feel the need to receive others' approval. It is innate in us to conform. Try to break a social norm, it feels strange and wrong.

Questions: How do we teach students to think outside of the box? Why is it important to think innovatively?