‘The 5th of March is World Book Day.’
World Book Day was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the world. The origins of the day we now celebrate in the UK and Ireland come from Catalonia, where roses and books were given as gifts to loved ones on St. George’s Day – a tradition started over 90 years ago*.
With reading and writing at the heart of learning and communication, World Book Day encourages children to enjoy reading, so that they continue their curiosity into adulthood.
It also reminds us that reading books is a highly effective way to encourage creativity and ideation, along with the notion of switching off our devices every now and then.
This article by Creative Huddle explores the effects of constant digital connection on our productivity and creativity.
It provides a balanced argument between the powerful opportunities offered by technology and the need to live in the natural, real world.
‘Tools, devices and the Internet will continue to transform how we create, work, learn, communicate, socialise, and even think. But unless we understand how – and when – to use these tools effectively there is a danger that they will hinder our concentration, productivity and creativity.
Educators are increasingly concerned about the potentially harmful ways in which technology and the Internet are impacting on students ability to learn. Even educators who themselves believe in the positive affordances of technology are worried.’
Providing education about how to use the Internet effectively will ultimately enable future generations to understand how it can enhance, and not simply determine, our creative potential. And it will also help us to appreciate the value of being fully present in any given moment and not miss out on what is real.
‘The challenge is to connect efficiently, to be clear about what we are aiming to achieve through the use of technology, and to appreciate the value of being both connected and disconnected.’
Let’s use World Book Day to embrace the act of unplugging when appropriate and curl up a with book or two!
*In the UK, World Book Day is held annually on the first Thursday in March, as the official celebration on 23rd April clashes with Easter school holidays.
