Roadblocks lead to new paths of exploration

I recently heard some bad news about my M.Ed research project. It seems it is impossible for the Ethics board to grant approval while I am in Japan. They cannot guarantee proper oversight.

At first I was disappointed, maybe even a little angry. I was looking forward to this. Yet, even though I still think that academics as an institution is overly cautious and stuffy, I think I have learned some important lessons.

- I have no interest in doing research as a profession; I love being in schools
- when you take a risk and go outside the box there is chance you will fail; be prepared for it
- when one path closes, another opens

Instead of researching collective mathematical understanding with my students, I will be writing a literature based paper.

Working title: Occasioning Creative Collectivity

Those three words need a lot of unpacking. I think there is something really interesting in this space, and I hope to explore it. I have no idea what I will find, or if I will find anything.

When you think of creativity, what comes to mind?  
When you think of collectivity, what comes to mind?

I'd love to hear your ideas.