What If? Imagining a Future Through Project-Based Learning Noor Al Radi, MS CCC-SLP, Allison Brudner, MS CCC-SLP, Nancy Tarshis, MA MS CCC-SLP Rose F. Kennedy Center - Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center UCEDD/LEND at Montefiore Medical Center What is an Imagination Chapter? Imagination chapters are "pop-up learning spaces that foster creativity, entrepreneurship and 21st century skills through creative play.” Chapters are guided under the Imagination Foundation We are the first special needs chapter, and are based out of the Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC). For students with social-cognitive learning challenges accessing and participating in group learning experiences is often a bigger hurdle than the academics. In the current climate of STEM, STEAM and project-based learning, how does one scaffold this population toward building, thinking, collaborating and sharing an imagination? How to scaffold? Who is this difficult for? How to share a space? Dividing space using simple barriers (i.e. tape) to support executive functioning. Routine. Infusing reflection and planning into opening and closing circle time as well as built in check-ins. These externalize processes of iteration. Being social. Activities to show what working with others looks like – starts with directing your body and gaze Establishing a shared context / content. Using themes and books to support them in sharing a thought Clarifying expectations. Moving from “What am I supposed to be doing” to “I am doing” through Job Talk (Ward 2012) Using visuals to reduce cognitive and linguistic load Using design process. Moving from a linear model to one that supports iteration Changing relationships with mistakes. Reframing mistakes as opportunities to learn to support a mindset that tolerates risk and failure. Building a skill set. Executive functioning, language, reasoning and Social Thinking© Why is this important? We must re-conceptualize imagination as a keystone to learning and success, as opposed to a childish escape from reality. Imagination is the action of forming new ideas not present to the senses and a catalyst or transforming knowledge into new ideas (Seelig, 2012). It is the ability of the mind to be creative and resourceful and supports academic, social and emotional growth in many ways, four are highlighted below: When we engage in creative and interactive play or have a conversation, we often imagine what others may be thinking. This allows us to share an idea, in our heads, so we can create and sustain an interaction with contributions from all participants. To share an imagination, we coordinate our ideas, goals and interests with those of others to pursue a common plan. We scaffold out projects to teach this concept because across the age span from our youngest participants to adulthood sharing an imagination is at the core of every successful collaboration. Children share imagination through Shared Collaborative Interactive Play (SCIP)© and group learning experiences. Adults share imagination through conversation, collaborative work and what we are doing now. If one does not consistently practice creativity techniques, like any machine or muscle, they will grow rusty and stiff (Stouffer and colleagues, 2004)  Project-based learning How do you make something happen?  Then again, How do you know what to do next if you're unsure about what you're working toward? “Children are eventually going to learn to recognize letters. But learning how people  work and what’s in others’ minds is a much deeper and more profound learning.”  - Dr. Alison Gopnik Flexible Thinking - considering alternatives Independent learning  Introspection References Gopnik, A. (2009) The Philosophical Baby, CA. Hendrix, R., Palmer, K. Tarshis, N., Winner, M.G., (2013) We Thinkers Volume 1, CA. Martinez, S. L. (2013) Invent to learn. CA. Seelig, T. L. (2012). InGenius: A crash course on creativity. NY. Tarshis, N., Winner, M.G., Palmer, K., Hendrix, R. (2016) We Thinkers Volume 2, CA. Ward, Sarah (2012) Talk at Social Thinking Providers Conference, MA. Acknowledgements This poster template was made possible by the continued support of the Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center, The Imagination Foundation, and the Einstein Emerging Leaders.