The third blog post from students in my class on Human Creativity x AI in Education. Links to previous posts below.
These posts are an ongoing record of what we are up to each week – and are not edited by me in any way (minor stylistic changes apart).
Here we go.
NOTICE: The Bollywood-Style Saga of Spectacular Creativity
Brought to you by TEAM AI: Kshitj Agarwal, Annie Cheng, Vaibhav Doifode, & Kellie Kreiser
Scene 1: The Mysterious Letters
The camera pans in on the front of the classroom. Professor Punya Mishra stands at the center, like the classic Bollywood bad guy from the Ajit era in a Bollywood film. By his side is Teaching Assistant Nicole Oster, phone in hand, ready to spring the day’s opening activity on us.
But there’s another force at play: Lindsey McCaleb, Nicole’s partner in planning. While Lindsey isn’t physically in the room, her presence is felt in the many challenging and thought-provoking exercises awaiting us.
It all begins with a puzzling text message from Nicole:
“Send me pictures of any letters you find in nature. No context. Just do it!”
A handful of students arrive late, breathless, phones brimming with snapshots of twigs, cracks in sidewalks, and rock formations that resemble letters. The “NOTICE” exercise kicks off. We cluster in small groups (numbers 1–6), each group brimming with excitement or confusion as they share their best “letter-spotting” photos.In a dramatic reveal worthy of a Bollywood plot twist, these letters form the word “NOTICE,” perfectly foreshadowing the day’s theme—perceiving the world in both expected and unexpected ways.
Fig (i) N-O-T-I-C-E
Fig (ii) Perceiving the world in both expected and unexpected ways.
Scene 2: The Great Debate on Privacy…and a Colorful Dress
Lights dim, ushering us into a discussion session. Each group has precisely one minute to tackle three provocative questions:
- Cultural Views of Privacy
A student from Mumbai explains how “privacy” in Hindi isn’t as definitive as in English. Punya weighs in:
“In some places, privacy might suggest something to hide, whereas in the U.S., it’s viewed as a right. Culture changes our perceptions.” - A Dress That Shook the Internet
Suddenly, an image of that viral dress lights up the screen: one half of the class sees it as white and gold; the other insists it’s blue and black. “They’re liars!” someone jokes, lighting a spark of friendly debate. - Sights, Sounds, and Apples
Next, we’re given that infamous audio clip: is it “Yanny” or “Laurel”? The class is again divided. Then, a mental exercise: “Imagine an apple.” Everyone envisions something different—some see a vibrant green apple, others a deep-red crisp, and someone even pictures a digital neon apple floating in a futuristic orchard.
The tension and humor rise to a Bollywood-level crescendo. Nicole attempts to restore order, but the boisterous energy only underscores the lesson: not everyone perceives things the same way. Physiology, culture, memory, and environment all shape our view of reality.
Fig (iii) Activity time
Scene 3: Intermission—A Dramatic Break & a Call for Spectacular Failure
Music swells, the unofficial intermission begins. Students slip out for a quick break, while some crowd around Nicole—who’s still cataloging those intriguing letter-photos.
When we resume, Punya claims center stage once more:
“I’m bored by how safe we’re all being. We need to fail spectacularly!”
Eyes widen at the challenge. In a creativity class, Punya argues, taking risks is the whole point. We can’t be afraid to crash and burn if we want to discover something truly original. On the projector, a bold banner appears:
“FAIL FAST, FAIL SPECTACULARLY — Don’t Solve World Hunger (Yet).”
He references our class reflections: we’ve mostly been safe, summarizing and staying literal. Now, it’s time for big risks and bolder interpretation:“Go big or go home. Why hold back?”
Fig (iv) We can’t be afraid to crash and burn
Scene 4: Birth of the GPT Bot—Or Many Bots!
We re-form small groups to create GPT bots that do something small but wonderfully creative. The atmosphere shifts into a dreamlike Bollywood number, with speech bubbles popping up over students’ heads:
- Annie’s “Idiom Translator Bot”: Translates quirky expressions from one language to another, injecting comedic flavor.
- Guarav’s “Daily Comic Strip of Your Day Bot”: Summarizes daily anecdotes with doodles, capturing mini-dramas in cartoon form.
Punya lights up, urging us to keep these AI ideas imaginative yet manageable.
“We learn most when we experiment and fail quickly. Don’t tackle the entire world—start with a playful approach!”
Scene 5: The Bollywood Finale—Food Fusion & the Sense of Touch
Spotlight on a flurry of mouthwatering, cross-continental concepts. Imagine an Indian chef in Mexico conjuring up spicy tacos blended with aromatic chicken masala. Students toss around names like “Chicken Madla Taco”—the classroom practically sizzles with creative energy.
And then, the final flourish: The ‘Group Energy’ ushers us into an activity called “TOUCH.” We list tangible items (like a sturdy table), emotional sensations (like a warm hug), and abstract concepts (like the liberating breeze of freedom). The take-home message? Our noetic experiences (intellectual insights) are inseparable from our senses, memories, backgrounds, and personal quirks.
Music builds to a grand crescendo. Students gather their belongings, half reluctant to leave. Punya stands at the helm, arms open in a welcoming gesture, encouraging us to stay transparent, embrace bold risks, and—most importantly—find excitement in the possibility of failing spectacularly. And just as the applause dies down, he glances at the clock with a sly grin.
“Remember,” he says, voice echoing through the room, “this is just the opening act…”
A collective shiver of excitement passes through us, because in that moment, we realize: the real show—the sequel—is yet to come.
Epilogue
Class disperses, but the buzz lingers. The illusions, debates on privacy, and risk-taking ethos continue to spark conversation in the hallway. Friendships blossom as new creative conspiracies brew.
NOTICE (NOETIC) flashes again, reminding us:
- Notice your environment and the letters hidden in it.
- Notice each other’s unique perspectives.
- Notice how failing in a dramatic way just might birth your most original ideas.
Author’s Note on Creative License
In true creative spirit, we took bold, cinematic liberties to adapt our actual class into this playful screenplay. While the core ideas and discussions reflect real events, certain elements have been dramatized for narrative fun. So, if you were actually there and remember things unfolding just a tad differently—consider it part of the grand experiment in perceiving and failing spectacularly!
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