http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66
After watching this very inspiring video, I feel that creativity is a necessary skill that students need to succeed in today's world, especially in the job force. Let's open this up for discussion:
How does evaluation/assessment enhance or limit creativity? How can it do either?
What is the first step in this process of reforming education to include a deeper focus on creativity and outside-of-the-box thinking?
What are our schools doing specifically that "educate" or stifle the creativity out of us?
How can we become more like children and understand their creative ways?
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5 comments:
I think that today's students are learning how to get by with the least amount of work possible to obtain a certain grade, I know I have been guilty of this before. So, to play that same game, if the teachers require creativity, or new thinking, then not only would it change how assignments are assessed, but also how they are completed. If the students are performing to the assessment, we need to change the assessment to encourage them to be more creative. Is there an example of ANY subject that could not be enhanced with creativity?
Having taught in the public schools for six years, I can think of several things our schools are doing to "educate" the creativity out of us. The one that most readily comes to mind is an over-emphasis on assessment, but perhaps more significant is what I'm going to call educational convergence. Creativity involves divergent thinking, but in our school systems, the curriculum is convergent. Though I do not believe that most adults intentionally squelch children's curiosity and creativity. We do not, as educators, actively support children in pursuing interests that fall outside the boundaries of our canonized curriculum. As a result children learn that society values convergent rather than divergent thinking.
I completely agree, very well said. I don't think we need to attack the educational system, but we do need to realize its weaknesses and how to overcome them. How would assessment look in a school where students are encouraged to think creatively?
Hay,
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The number one value of all schools seems to be conformity towards creating model citizens. For example, School uniforms are all the rage. Creativity is the opposite of conformity.
I went to a parent teacher's conference for my son in first grade. The teacher said he didn't follow instructions. She held up 2 of his art projects to illustrate (pun intended.) He colored the duck brown when it's suppose to be left white. He colored the preying mantis's eyes green when they were supposed to be red. When I asked my son about them, he said, "When we feed the ducks, most of them are brown. Only a few are white. Preying mantis eyes are never red. They're always green to blend into the plants. I don't know why my teacher is so weird."
A different son failed a high school humanities assignment to report a cultural event. He went to an Indian restaurant. He interviewed the owner/chef. Why can't he be normal (and bland and conventional) like the other kids? He would have gotten full credit for going to a junior high band concert or attending a community production of a Christmas Carol.
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