Education - The Infinity Games®

REPORTS

Interdsiciplinary education and 21st century skills

Research reports and observations by Felicitas Lenz

REPORT 1

2019, January 9 AZC Heerlen, De Vrolijkheid

The Vrolijkheid is a Dutch NGO organising creative activities with children and young people living in asylum seeker centres. The Infinity Games collaborated for a series of five workshops, combining different disciplines every session.

By Felicitas Lenz

On Wednesday, 9 January, the Infinity Games had their kick-off day at De Vrolijkheid Heerlen. Under Captain Marie’s guidance, two groups of around 15 children went on a little adventure to explore outer space with watercolours, coloured paper and scissors.

After an introduction to the Infinity Games and a short animation film, each of the kids received their drawing and crafting materials. Without any hesitation they started exploring composition, shapes and colours to create their own universes. A composition made in the infinity games, which included coloured shapes and planets, served as inspiration.

Most of the children seemed comfortable in exploring the theme and the media. It was striking to see how free the first group (ages 4-7) was able to play with shapes and color. In comparison some of the older children of the second group (ages 7-12) seemed a little more hesitant and eager to create something that was ‘beautiful’ or ‘correct’. While a few of the older children immediately started working on their universes, others were focused on e.g. trying to recreate the sun as it was displayed in the infinity games composition. Some of the older children were more likely to ask for the instructors help in for example sketching out a spaceship or an alien. What was observable in both groups was an active communication between participants. By watching their neighbours draw, asking questions or explaining their universes to one another, the children kept engaging with each other and the topic.

It was specifically interesting for me to see how the infinity games can meet a lot of different, individual demands. While serving as inspiration for the drawings it also formed a helpful, interactive tool for instructors to refer back to. Letting a few of the children experiment with the given composition seemed to be an effective way to re-engage participants who were stuck in their drawing process. To me this was a crucial moment as it shows a unique quality of the Infinity Games, in comparison to traditional digital tools. I am very curious to explore more possibilities of incorporating the Infinity Games in a workshop setting, especially in regards to different age-groups.

REPORT 2

2019, February 6 AZC Heerlen, Stichting De Vrolijkheid

The Vrolijkheid is a Dutch NGO organising creative activities with children and young people living in asylum seeker centres. The Infinity Games collaborated for a series of five workshops, combining different disciplines every session.

By Felicitas Lenz

The wrap up day of the workshop series at De Vrolijkheid Heerlen is probably best described as a loud and bold interplay of disciplines. In the best possible sense.

Projections of color and shape served as a (loose) guide and impulse for sound and movement, which in return gave new form to the projections. What started with light exercises on sound and movement, directed by visuals, later turned into mime play ininteraction with the screen, a dance party and a spontaneous music parade through the hallways. Roles were exchanged and the lines between workshop instructor and participant were blurred.

Everyone present joined the playful exploration and gave shape to this natural exchange of digital and analogue tools and disciplines. Many of the participants took ownership of the scene and, together with the instructors, collectively turned the afternoon into a colourful playground.