Teacher's Stories

Transforming Fixed Mindsets Through Open-Ended Exploration with Strawbees

How Strawbees Encourages Creativity and Builds Confidence in STEAM Education.

"I show them little ways of doing things and you can see the lightbulb is coming on as they're starting to get more and more creative."
teacher-stories-christine laurent-2
Christine Laurent

Educator & Founder of Dawn of Imagination, Quebec, Canada

Background

Christine Laurent, an educator and the founder of Dawn of Imagination in Quebec, Canada, has dedicated her career to creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences for students. However, many of her students arrive with fixed mindsets shaped by traditional educational systems, where giving the "right answer" is prioritised over creativity and exploration.

This rigid approach often leaves students struggling with open-ended tasks, which are critical in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education. Christine encountered one such student - a young girl accustomed to striving for perfection and fearing mistakes.

Using Strawbees as a flexible building tool, Christine witnessed a remarkable transformation as the student shifted from focusing on correctness to embracing creativity and exploration.

Implementation

Christine introduced Strawbees into her classroom as a tool for encouraging open-ended exploration. All Strawbees Kits provide students with an array of connectors and straws, allowing them to build anything from simple structures to complex designs. This hands-on approach aligns perfectly with STEAM education, developing creativity, problem-solving, and design thinking.

One student stood out during the activity: a girl who repeatedly asked, “Is this right? Is this right?” She was hesitant to begin, unsure of how to approach a task that didn’t have a clear "correct" answer. Christine reassured her, explaining that there wasn’t a single right way to complete the project. Instead, she encouraged the student to experiment, showing her a few small techniques to help her get started.

Gradually, Christine observed a shift in the student’s mindset. She went from hesitantly assembling pieces to confidently exploring new possibilities. A breakthrough moment of pure creativity and joy came when the student declared, “So I can make an umbrella hat?”. This marked a turning point as the student began to embrace the freedom that comes with open-ended exploration.

Outcomes

Shift to a Growth Mindset

The open-ended style of building with Strawbees allowed the student to move away from the rigid belief that every task has a single correct solution. Experimenting and learning to embrace trial and error during this type of exploratitive task helped creativity thrive.


Increased Confidence

Confidence blossomed in the student when they realize that they can generate their own ideas and bring them to life. The student demonstrated a willingness to ask questions, shifting away from seeking validation to exploring possibilities which empowers them to take ownership of their own learning.


Unlocking Creativity

The open-ended nature of Strawbees allowed this student to break free from perfectionism and focus on imaginative problem-solving. The journey from asking, “Is this right?” to building a playful, innovative project like an umbrella hat highlights the newfound creative freedom Strawbees can create.


Hands-On STEAM Skill Development

Students gain practical STEAM skills, including design thinking, spatial reasoning, and structural engineering, all while building their creations. These skills are critical for success in STEAM education and beyond.

Interview Video

"To go from always having the answer that is supposed to be given... to 'Oh, I can create anything!' was really magical"
Christine Laurent

Educator & Founder of Dawn of Imagination, Quebec, Canada

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