Thanks for the post!

As a future WL educator, creativity and play in learning have always been central to my teaching values.

This reminds me of my previous studies on Kantian imagination. His emphasis on the unique nature of individual imagination aligns with the topics you mention on the diversity of creativity pretty well, actually. Recognizing and nurturing the distinct imaginative capacities of each language learner becoming integral to fostering a sense of individuality and ownership over their expression as it were.

Also, your exploration of ill-defined problems and creative engagement really resonates with my views on imagination and uncertainty in learning. That is to say, introducing tasks that lack clear solutions not only stimulate creative thinking but also encourages students to navigate challenges with their imaginative faculties, fostering a deeper engagement with the learning process. External influences shaping imagination can be difficult, as I’ve seen a lot of student creativity be drained from them trying so hard to align their thinking with that of the teacher’s or their assignment rubrics, they all but forget how to be creative on their own; everything you’ve talked about really makes me think more about how we aren’t teaching students to have creative capacities, but they have their own inate creativity and we are able to equip them with mental tools, so to speak, to better engage with the things they are faced with.