I
could not agree more with this statement.
I believe creativity is so important to the learning process in both
children and adults, but, unfortunately, many people do not feel this way. It makes me sad to hear other teachers talk
about art, music, and computer class like they are just time fillers while we
are in planning period. They do not
value them because they are not the core subjects, like math and reading. I believe they are just as important, and
when we belittle a child’s creativity we are discouraging them from becoming
creative thinkers.
In
my own classroom I have seen how important creativity is. My students are so much more engaged and
motivated when they are using the content they have learned to create a project. When they are actively working on something
they retain what they have learned. It
is an authentic way to assess what they have learned. I try to give my students the opportunity to
be creative whenever I can.
Additional
Resource
I
love this video! These kids are learning
and they’re so enthusiastic about it. You
can see from their discussions just how much they know about the content.
Resource
Wilson,
Richard. (April 2010). Creativity and Education. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdRQ9_h3D8w
I agree with you! Students should be able to create. When they are young they make up games and will have a fun time with a stick, if you'd let them. Education was created through creativity and learning. We have the learning down, but we don't allow our students to be creative, unless they are in the arts. Create is the key word in creative thinking. It stimulates learning and exploration that traditional school doesn't allow for.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the quote you chose and your reasoning. I think everyone has the potential to be creative but not everyone chooses to be. I just finished a lesson that took my students outside their comfort zone by having them design their own procedure for lab. I presented them with a scenario and they had to determine how to solve the problem. Generally I give them the procedure which is basically a recipe with exactly what to do. It was a struggle at first but in the end I had some very creative ideas. I also agree that vocational (what we called art, music, etc) classes are just as important as core classes. However I feel students should be encouraged to be creative in all their classes when appropriate. I always loved activities where we had to create something. I still have a rock made to look like George Washington from history class in middle school.
ReplyDeleteI really like your resource! I think it’s wonderful! The kids are so bright and having so much fun learning and I’m not sure they even know they are learning. Thanks for sharing!
Perfect quote choice! We cannot expect children to be creative thinkers if don't give them opportunities to create.
ReplyDeleteGood discussion of creativity and learning! Here is what one educator thinks about the relationship between creativity and the culture of standardized testing!
ReplyDeleteYong Zhao has made this point powerfully in his books, especially in the one that was published just weeks ago, World Class Learners. Indeed, it is not balance he emphasizes, but the necessity of de-emphasizing rote learning and standardization. Yong Zhao argues in that book that the emphasis on high scores and on creativity are not complementary; he says that the nations with the highest test scores are lowest in entrepreneurship and creativity. The pursuit of high scores may eventually undermine the advantage that the U.S. has long enjoyed: an education system that is highly decentralized, where there is time to cultivate imagination, creativity and risk-taking. It is the American spirit. If it’s standardized, it will be destroyed.