Hope of the Future: Creativity in the Classroom

Creativity. According to Merriam-Webster, creativity is the ability to make new things or think of new ideas. Creativity is a very valuable skill. However, it is not one that is highly encouraged in many school settings. Schools value skills such as listening/paying attention, following directions, and intellectual capabilities. Ten years ago Ken Robinson gave a TED talk titled, Do Schools Kill Creativity? His focus was that to prepare students for the future educators need to encourage creativity - creative thinking and the arts. Well, today is the future he was talking about.

Due to the dynamic characteristic of today’s work environment, creativity is a skill employers desire. Creativity is no longer a skill that is reserved for students focused on arts education. It is a skill crucial for all of our students. Kristen Hicks, author of Why Creativity in the Classroom Matters More Than Ever, states, “Learning a specific skill set doesn’t have the value in today’s world that it once did. Learning how to be more creative (and thus adaptable) – now that’s what prepares students for life beyond the classroom.”

Hicks’ Edudemic article also gives 5 Ways to Bring More Creativity Into the Classroom. She asserts that creative assignments are better for both the student and the teacher. They are more engaging for the student to complete and more enjoyable for the teacher to grade. Her suggestions include the following:

1. Don’t limit assignments to one format - Differentiating instruction. You provide the subject, but give students freedom in the product.
2. Set time aside for creativity - Set aside time during the day (or week) to allow students the opportunity for creative thinking.
3. Use tech to broaden your idea of assignments - In today’s world, creativity and technology go hand-in-hand.
4. Introduce unconventional learning materials into class - Content can be found in places other than textbooks - and it may be more engaging in a different format.
5. Encourage discussion - Using debates or the Socratic method in your classroom gets students actively engaged. Hicks also states, “The ability to communicate your ideas clearly and respectfully is something that will benefit students in all areas of their life – and something a lot of people grow up never learning how to do well.”

Creating a learning environment that fosters and encourages creativity requires teachers to be creative too. Almost all children start their educational careers with a desire to learn, bright imaginations, open minds, and willingness to take risks. Even as Sir Ken Robinson says:

“The gardener does not make the plant grow. The job of a gardener is to make optimal conditions.”

- Sir Ken Robinson

Courses available through Pepper will provide foundational concepts that will allow teachers to implement a creative classroom approach. Check out our wide range of Pepper Courses and our Pepper Resource Library to further your own professional growth.

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