If you’re anything like me, you might have mixed feelings about Ikea. There’s something enjoyable about strolling through their showroom, putting our kids in the play area, and exploring the affordable furniture options available. Despite the challenges of navigating their shopping carts, I often find myself returning with my partner, especially to find items for our children’s rooms.
Recently, we visited Ikea to pick up a “big girl” bed for my youngest, who was celebrating her second birthday. Sure enough, Ikea had just what we needed, and we loaded up our car with four sizable boxes. As I drove home, my mind was preoccupied with the task ahead: assembling the bed. It was Saturday, and I had college football to watch, chores to tackle, and a party to prepare for the next day.
Once I set myself up for assembly and unloaded the boxes, the parts were scattered everywhere. However, Ikea had done a commendable job organizing components, color-coding them, and providing clear instructions for assembly.
A few hours later, I had successfully built the bed! While I assembled it step by step, I couldn’t help but reflect on how this experience mirrored the challenges our students face in school. They often encounter “big tasks” such as writing essays, completing projects, or solving complex problems, which can seem daunting. Yet, we break these tasks down into manageable steps, provide detailed instructions, and outline rubrics to ensure they stay on course until completion.
While this method may appear beneficial, I believe it poses significant challenges within our education system. It can stifle creativity and innovation when students are constantly guided to adhere strictly to rules and processes.
Four Key Insights from My Ikea Experience
- Simplicity Doesn’t Equate to Learning: Ikea makes it easy to assemble furniture, but I didn’t really learn anything in the process. I can’t even call it “building” since it resembled following a Lego instruction manual rather than actual creation. How often do students produce work in school without truly learning because they simply follow prescribed steps?
- Focus on Compliance Over Creativity: My experience with Ikea emphasized compliance. The entire process revolved around following the instructions, with little room for deviation. If I didn’t comply, I risked ruining the assembly and faced having to start over. After finishing the bed, I felt a sense of accomplishment, but it was tied to my ability to follow directions rather than the joy of creating something unique.
- Convenience Over Creativity: The Ikea assembly process was undeniably convenient, allowing me to complete the task quickly. However, it lacked creativity. I once assigned my students a project to design a website for a book we were reading, but I provided them with a specific website builder, template, and strict guidelines. As a result, their projects all looked remarkably similar, lacking individuality and creativity.
- Standardization Leads to Hacking: While discussing Ikea, I discovered a community dedicated to “hacking” Ikea products. People creatively modify and repurpose these standardized items, showcasing their ingenuity. Similarly, in education, a standardized approach often spurs individuals to seek ways to break free from constraints and innovate.
This reflection highlights a broader concern within our educational system. We strive to support student success with scaffolding and structured guidelines, but where do we draw the line? How can we encourage students to learn from their mistakes, celebrate their creativity, and provide ample time for exploration rather than merely following a prescribed process?
In summary, the parallels between Ikea and the education system reveal important insights about compliance, convenience, and the need for creative freedom.
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