What is creativity?
Creativity is about encouraging learners to use their imagination to arrive
at novel or original solutions to problems, challenges, questions and tasks.
The ideas, thoughts, feelings, actions, solutions and answers generated
by the learner as a result of creative behaviour should be original and
new to them and the outcome must be worthwhile and valid. Where an act is
highly imaginative and original but may harm someone or destroy something,
the outcome is neither worthwhile nor valid.
Learners who see connections, have bright ideas, are innovative and able
to solve problems are the kind of people employers consistently say they
want to employ. Those able to think creatively and critically, solve problems,
be innovative and enterprising are more likely to lead richer lives and
make a valuable contribution to society. They are also likely to be better
prepared for life in a rapidly changing world in which they may have several
career changes during their working life.
Developing a curriculum that supports creativity
Learners should have opportunities across the curriculum to:
- be curious
- question and challenge
- make connections and see relationships
- envisage what might be
- speculate about possibilities
- explore ideas
- think laterally, 'outside the box'
- keep options open
- reflect critically on ideas, actions and outcomes.
Opportunities for creative thinking can be provided in many different contexts
and can be integral to many activities both within and beyond the classroom.
In order to help learners make connections and solve tasks with novel, unique
and original ideas it is necessary to:
- find ways to capture learners' interests and fire their imaginations
by providing stimulating starting points (for example through role play,
visits to local places of interest or by watching and working with creative
people)
- actively encourage learners to question, make connections and envisage
what might be
- provide the time for them to think, explore and experiment, to play
with ideas, try alternatives, adapt and modify their ideas and thoughts
- ask open-ended questions such as 'What if??' and 'How might you??' to
help learners see things from different perspectives
- value and praise what learners do and say, establishing an atmosphere
in which they feel safe to say things, take risks and respond in different
and surprising ways
- encourage learners to be adventurous and explore ideas freely
- create conditions for quiet reflection and concentration
- make the most of unexpected events
- be willing to stand back and let learners take the lead, join in with
activities and model creative behaviour
- stop regularly for open discussion of the problems learners are facing
and how they can solve them
- help learners to appreciate the different qualities in others' work
and to value ways of working that are different from their own
- give learners the chance to work with others from their class, year
group and different age groups.
Planning
When planning lessons and work teachers should:
- build creativity objectives into their planning
- look for opportunities to promote creativity, for example by adapting
activities so that they offer more opportunity for open-ended, novel and
original answers
- devise activities that build on learners' interests and experiences
and are personally and culturally authentic to them
- plan to use a range of teaching and learning styles so that all learners
have the chance to show their creativity (for example role play, hands-on
experimentation, problem solving, discussions and collaborative work)
- give learners the tools to enable them to be creative and purposeful
in their learning and provide them with the underpinning knowledge and
skills they need.
