Structured Pragmativity is a watchword (well two words, actually) for us at Matrix FortyTwo. It provides the basis of the design, development and delivery of our programmes so it is fairly important that we understand it. But what does it mean?
Well, pragmativity is a new word that I invented to explain the opposite of those times when creativity goes mad. You know the type of thing … ‘let’s all stand on each other’s shoulders and drum on the ceiling!’ or ‘make like a tree to experience the wind in your branches’. Now these are extremes, of course, but some ‘creative’ interventions that should have had very good learning outcomes are often missed through the lack of a clear understanding of what they were intended to achieve in the first place and/or a poor debrief at the end of the activity. This has, in the past, got creativity in training some bad press and I totally agree with them. As soon as someone on a workshop says ‘now we’re going to have some fun’ or ‘we’re going to play a game now’ my heart sinks.
But there is an alternative – pragmatic creativity AKA pragmativity – where creative interventions can be used to great effect as long as the purpose and application of the creativity is at the forefront. If you don’t know what it is going to achieve, don’t do it! Make interventions enjoyable but don’t undermine the outcome by calling it ‘fun’ or ‘just a game’. Pragmativity is a serious concept because it means that the learners don’t need to know just how much effort we put into making the activity meaningful, engaging and enjoyable.
Of course, this can only work if applied in a structured way (however fluidly) – hence Structured Pragmativity. It is all about getting the balance right. Perhaps the little bit of pragmativity in the attached will help demonstrate the concept and its benefits further. Click the play button to move through the presentation.
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