Creativity
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them."
Einstein
Why
There are three imperatives for creativity taking a central place in education;
Economic - creativity will increase in importance in the workplaces of the future.
Cultural - the world is becoming more connected, challenging and complicated.
Personal - a sense of purpose and fulfilment, often nourished by creativity, leads to a life course which matters to both the self and others.
What
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.
How
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.
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.
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
