A1. To me, creativity is the ability to look at problems or questions through a unique lens. To find answers to questions that have not been asked. #akedchat
A1: Creativity is the ability to express unique thoughts in unique ways without fear of judgment. Schools need to harness Ss' creativity - we (and they) can gain a lot from it. #akedchat
A1: I think creativity is having the room & curiosity to find all the 10K+ different paths that lead from A to B. For me, that's kids doing their own experiments. #akedchat
A2: Schools have the ability to both kill and nurture creativity. It's up to the school to decide if it will welcome creativity. In my opinion, schools could be much more intentional about fostering, encouraging, and harnessing creativity in Ss. #akedchat
A2 Overstandardization kills creativity, but I do not believe that schools inherently do. If anything, I believe that schools foster creativity in spite of testing and other bothers. #akedchat
I don't think it is schools, so much as the 'Educational Industrial Complex'. ;) All kidding aside schools have to be a balance of some many things to so many students. I just think we have equally weigh things like literacy with creativity. #akedchat
I'm doing it! I allow and expect Ss to brainstorm their own creative ways to solve math problems rather than providing them with a list of steps to do so, then we discuss the different ways the class solved it. We also do a lot of drawing the math. #akedchat
A3 Kind of. I believe he is a bit off the mark, but his intention was alright. I think creativity is the pinnacle of literacy. Reading, writing, and speaking are just tools. The ability to create is what proves true mastery. #akedchat
I think we need to take a good, honest look at what's really important. Do we want ours Ss to become real, thinking human beings, or is it more important that they can answer specific questions on a specific test that will be obsolete within a few years? #akedchat
If you are clever with words but nobody can read, does it matter? Without literacy you can't survive, but without creativity you can't really live. #akedchat
I think we need to take a good, honest look at what's really important. Do we want ours Ss to become real, thinking human beings, or is it more important that they can answer specific questions on a specific test that will be obsolete within a few years? #akedchat
Dump standardized testing, for one. It is not worth the time for it's small bit of usefulness. Teachers should be artists. The same variance in effectiveness that occurs with learning styles also occurs with teaching styles. Each teacher should have their own tests. #akedchat
#akedchat A3: Both are needed, certainly. Problem with current system is churning out Ss who are good rule followers & terrible critical thinkers because they've not been given the help to be creative in their learning process.
#akedchat A3: Both are needed, certainly. Problem with current system is churning out Ss who are good rule followers & terrible critical thinkers because they've not been given the help to be creative in their learning process.
I'm not sure Robinson was advocating for a dichotomy or arguing the value of one over the other; merely recognizing that one is common practice in education, and the other is overlooked. #akedchat
A3, cont: It's hard on tchrs who want to support Ss creativity & risk taking, but that takes TIME & we have so much we're supposed to do on a year. Trapped between what you think is best for Ss & requirements of the job. #akedchat
#akedchat A4 In unexpected places, at unexpected times! Anywhere and everywhere! A student floored me with how she solved a fraction division problem today in a really unexpected way. We just have to keep looking for these moments!
#akedchat Amy Jo from Juneau joining late. Thanks for hosting on creativity. I agree that creativity can both motivate and increase student learning. Ss need opportunities to explore and think critically in various content areas.
That’s one of the things I have been pondering : how can you create a system that values growth over “proficiency”? What would the structure and process of that look like? #akedchat
I think that the most effective learning takes place after the school day. When kids don't have to be there and they aren't on the clock, everything seems to move faster. #akedchat
A4: Fine arts (dance, theater, music, art, etc) are the obvious places I think because creativity is acknowledged to be a key part of the learning. Now if only we can get that mentally tied to math, science, history... #akedchat
A3 #akedchat I agree with @KDA_AK . It is very difficult to balance requirements of the job and also address the skills Ss need that aren't reflected in the tests.
Why can't we teach harmonic resonance in physics class?? Once upon a time I had a phenomenal young band teacher I would bring into my physics class. #akedchat
A5: I think 'teaching' creativity is almost defeating the purpose. Ss have the ability and desire to be creative; we need to give them an outlet to know it's appropriate and encouraged. #akedchat
A5: I think we need to give Ts license to be creative with Ss. Not all day everyday, but be purposeful about the inclusion of #creativity in a variety of subjects. #akedchat
Get them into situations that are medium-structured. Not a total free-for-all, but not micromanaged either. I love my after school practice club because it has that balance. Sometimes I think kids learn faster there than in real class. #akedchat
#akedchat Some teachers do! Our physics teacher has a flame tube he hooks up to kids' iPods & the music determines the wave pattern of the flames. No nodding off in THAT room.
A5 I’m not sure if “teach” creativity is the correct verbiage - maybe it’s something that needs to be encouraged and fostered in the right environment vs explicitly taught. #akedchat
A5 Rather than teach creativity, we allow it to happen, support it, set up students to let their creative juices flow. This can be done within the curriculum, but it doesn't look the same as people expect school to look. #akedchat
I think there is some truth in your statement, but some students don't have the tools to explore or feel a sense of agency that allows them to take the risk of being creative. #akedchat
A5. "purposeful"!!!! designing lessons with intentionality is SOOOOOO very important. What we want to kids to know needs to be our focal point in lesson design. #akedchat
A5: I think we need to give Ts license to be creative with Ss. Not all day everyday, but be purposeful about the inclusion of #creativity in a variety of subjects. #akedchat
All people have some form/level of creativity. It just needs to be encouraged more in some than others. Some kids need to be shown they have creativity. #akedchat
#akedchat Some teachers do! Our physics teacher has a flame tube he hooks up to kids' iPods & the music determines the wave pattern of the flames. No nodding off in THAT room.
I agree - this is why we as Ts need to make a conscious effort to build creativity into our daily teaching. Eventually, it'll feel like less of a risk and more of an everyday expectation. #akedchat
A5 Teaching creativity is as easy as allowing students to fail without any ill feelings. Students take risks if they feel safe, and taking risks is all creativity really is. If a kid creates something and gets laughed at, they'll rarely try it again. #akedchat
All people have some form/level of creativity. It just needs to be encouraged more in some than others. Some kids need to be shown they have creativity. #akedchat
A5 I think admin needs to support teachers in PD with varying opps such as Bertie Kingore, EiE, SCAMPER, etc. Then Ts need to support Ss with time, space to work creatively in multiple content areas. Accountability for Ss learning can include creative thinking as well. #akedchat
A6 The content standards should include creativity. If they don't, then they aren't teaching true mastery. Regurgitating material is always frowned upon, but many standards still make them do it. Creating something new should be the last step in any lesson. #akedchat
A5 I think admin needs to support teachers in PD with varying opps such as Bertie Kingore, EiE, SCAMPER, etc. Then Ts need to support Ss with time, space to work creatively in multiple content areas. Accountability for Ss learning can include creative thinking as well. #akedchat
A6 The content standards should include creativity. If they don't, then they aren't teaching true mastery. Regurgitating material is always frowned upon, but many standards still make them do it. Creating something new should be the last step in any lesson. #akedchat
Kids learn fast that I don't tolerate any discouraging remarks in my class. They learn the difference between laughing with and laughing at. I'm also lucky enough to have kids repeat my class up to 7 years in a row, so they feel safe in a way they can't ever elsewhere. #akedchat
I think Ss are excited and enthusiastic when allowed to show their creativity; I would love to have it be commonplace enough that they think it's just a matter of course! #akedchat
Big positive impact, imo. People sharing info means you don't reinvent the wheel, but it also sparks ideas because it stretches your idea of what is possible. #akedchat
A7 It ABSOLUTELY increases creativity! Look what we do in our grade-level teacher teams - someone gets an idea and we run with it. It becomes totally different in the end sometimes and always amazing! #akedchat
Yes. But those skills should be used to create something unique. Write something. Sing something. Draw something. Diagram something. Do something. Don't just fill in a bubble to show competency. Knowing what to DO with the knowledge is the most important thing. #akedchat
A7 If the personalities jive, it encourages students to be more creative. If the students are nervous or intimidated by each other, they take less risks and creativity is inhibited. #akedchat
A8: Collaboration can allow us teachers to try and fail together, then learn from it and improve for next time. The revision process is all about creativity. #akedchat
A7 If the personalities jive, it encourages students to be more creative. If the students are nervous or intimidated by each other, they take less risks and creativity is inhibited. #akedchat
A8: Collaboration can allow us teachers to try and fail together, then learn from it and improve for next time. The revision process is all about creativity. #akedchat
A8: our school started weekly collaboration time a few years back & it's been hugely helpful. I get so many ideas for things to do with my Ss by hearing the success & failure stories from other tchrs. #akedchat
Right on! this needs to be a school/district wide initiative. It can be sparked by a single teacher. Everyone needs to be on board with what is best for kids. #akedchat
A9: working w gr 3-5 Ss academic/gifted on building replicas of famous landmarks. Ss select landmark, materials, etc, and are working w an accountability partner to specifically help foster creative thinking skills as they problem solve thru tasks. Social+academic goals #akedchat
