A1: Creativity is the ability to make something in your own, special way. Creativity is unique and fun! It expands views & brings new ideas into the world #utedchat
I'm excited to take part in my first #utedchat as well! I am an English teacher and creativity is super important to me for my students. I'm excited for the discussion tonight.
Creativity is within everyone in some shape or form. I think it's easy to jump right into physical art, but being creative can be as simple as thinking outside the box. #utedchat
A1 Creativity is helping kids to look at content and ideas in their own unique way. One of our jobs is to encourage kids to explore and try new things. #utedchat
A1 Creativity is helping kids to look at content and ideas in their own unique way. One of our jobs is to encourage kids to explore and try new things. #utedchat
Great point Christina - we normally associate creativity with the arts, but it can exist in any subject where students explore ideas in innovative ways. #utedchat
A1: Creativity is often new ways of seeing the world or imagining a better world and ways to make it so. Creativity includes both art and science, and is especially powerful in combining the two in new and interesting ways. Daydreaming/time is essential. #utedchat
A little late to the party tonight. I’m Jesse Hennefer Administrator of Instructional Supports Canyons District. I think creativity can be taking what has been learned and applying it or extending in unique ways. #utedchat
I agree 100%. Our students have so many amazing skills and talents they have yet to discover. When we encourage them to express their creativity and try new things, they learn so much about themselves and their abilities. #utedchat
The song "Flowers Are Red" by Harry Chapin is what inspired me to allow my students more creative opportunities. If you haven't heard the song, find it and listen to it. #utedchat
A2: It has an essential role to play in education. Students should be using their creativity and teachers should be fostering it every day. There needs to be a component of it every day. #utedchat
A2: I think the better question is where DOESN’T creativity belong in education. In our changing world, creativity belongs in every aspect of the classroom. #UTedChat
A2: I think the better question is where DOESN’T creativity belong in education. In our changing world, creativity belongs in every aspect of the classroom. #UTedChat
A2: Education is ALL about creativity. For teachers it’s a science and an art and for students, they need creativity to navigate the uncertain world and challenges they’ll encounter in the “real” world. #UTedChat
A2: There is an element of risk associated with being creative in any subject area. Education provides a safe place where students can take risks and learn form them. My student are talented and when they feel safe to share and explore new ideas, amazing things happen. #utedchat
A2: also, students who only know how to work in structured notes or in formulate responses they will crumble when faced with problems that don’t fit neatly in a box. #UTedChat
You're right Christina. So many times students correlate creativity with being artistic but critical thinking and problem solving skills require creativity as well. #utedchat
A2: Creativity is a crucial component of education, and should be encouraged through multiple opportunities for student choice and creation. Unfortunately, this is often squashed once students reach secondary school. Reactions to this shift are rather predictable. #utedchat
A2: I think that creativity can be found in all aspects of education. Creativity can help our world reach new and wonderful heights. Our students are the ones that will be driving that. Without creativity, that potential may be lost #utedchat
A2: Creativity is the end goal of education. Whether it’s science, math, writing, we want our students to take steps and ideas farther, and in new directions, than those they were taught. #utedchat
I agree Du. We need to structure our lessons to provide space for kids to be creative. I know we can’t say - ok, let’s be spontaneous for the next 10 min., but we can create opportunities for kids to explore and try new things. #utedchat
You're right Christina. So many times students correlate creativity with being artistic but critical thinking and problem solving skills require creativity as well. #utedchat
The thing to remember about creativity in a classroom is that you can start with baby steps. It doesn’t have to be this major projects or extended creative act. You can just be as simple as giving them a choice and seeing where they can go with it. #UTedChat
These are such good points. Students failing forward and learning from their failures allow them to become leaders and members of society that future employers look for. #UTEdChat
I love this. I know of specific students who struggle with open-ended tasks, and the idea of creativity terrifies them. Easing into using creativity is the only way for some students. #utedchat
Such great advice Kiera. I think we get overwhelmed thinking we need to overhaul our lessons, when simple things can make a big difference. Choice and voice is a great way to start. #utedchat
A3: Both! I think we all have innate creative abilities that we enhance. However, we have other creative abilities that can be taught to us that we never knew we had. #UTedChat
I agree with @katiejowood in that it can both be taught and be innate. Sometimes all it takes is one lesson that steers outside the box, in order to open up a student's innate creativity. #utedchat
A3: I believe that creativity is innate. We all have different forms of creativity. I also think that creativity can be guided to a small degree when needed- especially if a student is hesitant to let their creativity shine. #utedchat
A3 Great question! I know some people naturally look at the world in their own unique way, but I think creativity can be cultivated in ourselves and our students. We need to push the envelope! #utedchat
I am a huge fan of the @makermovment! Having an amazing space to allow students to create, share, and explore is so important! At the very least I think they are super fun to set up! #UTEdChat
Classrooms being a safe space is so important. With creativity, we need to remind students that it's not about being right or wrong, it's about exploring and learning. #utedchat
A3: oooo good question...I think creativity is inherit in everyone, but it has been beaten out of kids over the years and by the time we see them in high school, they are more scared of the wrong answer than just trying something out. #UTedChat
Couldn’t agree more Jesse. A great way to help the kids take risks is to provide an example by taking intellectual risks in our classes. We need to try new things as well. #utedchat
A3: Creativity is innate...at one level or another someone can create something, plan something, communicate something, but it needs to be fostered in students so that it can develop. That is where educators come in. We help students develop their creativity. #utedchat
A4: really important way to encourage creativity in your classroom is to demonstrate it in your own attitudes. Constantly telling the kids that “I’m trying” or “let’s figure this out together” or demonstrating your creativity in different ways. #UTedChat
I think a lot of it comes from our reaction to students' work/answers. Fostering an atmosphere where kids feel safe to share right or wrong answers is a key component. #utedchat
Important to not avoid a new strategy or method because of "that one kid..." - Work with "that one kid..." Believe in and find ways for them to be successful... #UTedchat
A3: I believe everyone has the ability to be creative but some don’t have the opportunities to nurture the abilities they have. As educators we play a valuable role in helping our students understand and develop the innovative talents that lie within them! #utedchat
Love this. Teachers don’t click their fingers to make a kid creative, but we can provide an environment the fosters expression and innovation. #utedchat
A4: I took an oil painting class for fun and I would constantly be telling the kids about what I was learning and how difficult it was, BUT also how much I loved it. Creativity is so fun but you have to work at it some times. #UTedChat
I agree! I have had several professors this semester help push me to be more creative in the classroom- especially my math education & ed. tech professors. They have helped me reach levels of creativity that I never imagined before #utedchat
A3: Yes to both. Just like talents require hard work to develop, and some of us work hard to develop skills that might not be innate, so it is with creativity. We all have unique perspectives and different ways of seeing the world. The trick is to coax connections. #utedchat
A4 I think creating the culture of creativity is an important start. Students need to know that its okay to fail and to fail forward with improvement in mind.....on the other hand having really cool moveable furniture and supplies do help. #makermovement#utedchat
A4: I've learned that I have to model creativity in my classroom, and do it boldly and unapologetically. When students see this they are more likely to try, without feeling bad for every little misstep. #utedchat
So this is kinda silly, but do you remember the Barney Bag segment from the old TV show Barney and Friends? Makerspaces are kind of like that #UTedChathttps://t.co/xDT2hgpNP8
A4: There are creative ways to teach content curriculum and give students choice, but it takes time to develop and refine these choices to maximize student success with appropriate supports without limiting creativity too much. I'm always working on that balance. #utedchat
A4: It starts with building relationships with your students and helping students build relationships with each other. That provides the trust and respect that form the safe space that the classroom should be.
A4: Having a climate of creativity in the classroom includes have a safe space and good classroom community. Students should be comfortable with taking risks and rising to meet and complete challenges #utedchat
A4: It can be hard but we must learn to facilitate learning instead of dictate learning. It might mean it’s a little messy at first but original creative work usually is and yet results are masterpieces. #utedchat
Well said. Classroom culture makes or breaks this. Students must feel safe trying things out or they won't. Especially at the secondary level where they develop mortal fear of public humiliation. #UTEdchat
A5: I think always expecting the "right" answer, making assignments too structured, and never demonstrating different ways to learn are some creativity-killers in our classrooms. #utedchat
A5: The key is avoiding simplistic 'answers.' If students can look it up with on Google, we need to enrich the experience to encourage synthesis and creativity in safe ways where the 'right' answer can always be extended and the 'wrong' answer can always be corrected. #UTEdchat
Q5 I think one of the biggest detractors to creativity is teaching to a test. We need assessments, but we can help students learn in so many ways that inspire them. Let’s make learning fun! #utedchat
A lot of great comments tonight. I find creativity is hard to nurture in an 8th grade math class. So many concepts to explicitly teach. I'm working on more task based learning as well as doodle notes. I'm a huge fan of Doodle Notes. #utedchat
A5: The key is avoiding simplistic 'answers.' If students can look it up with on Google, we need to enrich the experience to encourage synthesis and creativity in safe ways where the 'right' answer can always be extended and the 'wrong' answer can always be corrected. #UTEdchat
A5: It’s so easy to criticize. Let’s encourage each other to be creative! We never know when the next wonderful invention or solution is just a thought away! #utedchat
Q5: I think that we need to avoid the belief that there is only one right answer. Students can break barriers if they feel like they can understand or think about something in more than one way. #utedchat
A5: shutting down students ideas, keeping a narrow perspective of what “learning” looks like, or sticking with “what has always been done”. Students are different from year to year and it’s important to adapt for that. #UTedChat#keepcreativityintheclassroom
A5: We shouldn't force students to do things only one way. We also should be accommodating for those who may need something a little different than what we originally have planned for the class to do. Let the students be themselves #utedchat
A5: Teachers have to be super prepared in order to foster student creativity. Planning the activities, opportunities and choices that allow student to let their creativity flourish is so important. #utedchat
Agreed! Over evaluating can lead to stunted creativity. Students definitely need to feel great accomplishments in their work and effort while not worrying about how they are "doing" all the time. #utedchat
Belinda, I agree. It is so easy to criticize something new, but creativity is literally the song that has yet to be heard or the story that has yet to be written. Encouragement makes creativity dreams a reality! #utedchat
A5 continued: Maybe most important is being prepared enough that you can be agile when student creativity heads in a direction you may not have anticipated so you can support it to completion.
