Creativity
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them."
Einstein
Why
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There are three imperatives for creativity taking a central place in education;
Economic - creativity will increase in importance in the workplaces of the future.
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Cultural - the world is becoming more connected, challenging and complicated.
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Personal - a sense of purpose and fulfilment, often nourished by creativity, leads to a life course which matters to both the self and others.
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What
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Creativity takes many forms and has many definitions. But more than anything, it is something we often do without recognising. Creative activities are those that:
1. Are Purposeful
2. Generate something original
3. Generate something of value
4. Are a social activity
5. Are a response to a problem or challenge.
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How
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Creativity begins with a foundation of knowledge, learning a discipline, and mastering a way of thinking. Once that foundation is established, creativity is a skill that is both innate and can be taught. We learn to be creative by;
- Experimenting
- Exploring
- Questioning assumptions, and
- synthesising information.
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These come in many forms, but the encouragement of divergent ways of thinking is key. There is more than one way to a solution, and nudging students through questioning, well framed assessments and a classroom culture that celebrates curiosity and mistakes encourages this.
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Links - https://www.saspa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/aspa0001_Monograph_digital.pd
http://theconversation.com/what-creativity-really-is-and-why-schools-need-it-81889
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