Post by marycaitrolph on Aug 7, 2011 14:52:13 GMT -5
The article, “The Creativity Crisis” tells us that American creativity scores are failing, is anyone truly surprised by this? As students we are shown how to express ourselves through art and music beginning in preschool and continuing throughout our education. We are told that it is essential to development, but yet more programs are reduced or eliminated yearly. It would be an easy assumption to reach that only what is on standardized testing is what is truly essential; however CEOs have identified creativity as the “leadership competency” of the future. This information makes me question do I have the leadership competency needed to be successful, especially in a male dominated profession. Have I truly been prepared for what lies ahead or will I be left behind?
As young students we were encouraged to become independent thinkers and to even color outside the lines. Somewhere along the years, it became more important to memorize facts and not question the how or why. Teachers are given benchmarks to meet and students are graded on their “good faith effort”. Shouldn’t there be a good faith effort by every school district and teacher to help all students become creative in looking for ways to solve problems. What good is any information if it cannot be applied to the present and future?
The article states that by middle school students have quit asking questions and this is when motivation and engagement plummet. It also tells us they do not stop asking questions because they lost interest; rather they lost interest because they stopped asking questions. What does this information mean to educators, maybe what has worked in the past, works no longer. Learning needs to be fun and engaging, it should meet the needs of all types of learners. Classes with students remaining in their seats having information delivered to them and not allowing the student to contribute are in need of changing. Students will become bored and act out, teachers will become frustrated with the students and not only is there little learning occurring, there is less teaching as well. A creative classroom welcomes organized chaos-students out of seat, talking with each other and hands on activities.
Students that are taught in a traditional classroom lacking creativity have reduced problem solving skills. Project based learning prepares us for the future in many ways-to work with others, to value the opinions of others, to view a problem, and solution from many sides and to develop a plan of action. While project based learning activities may help meet the needs of students they may require more work from already stressed educators. Will all educators see the need for creativity in the classroom? It would seem difficult for a teacher that has had a successful testing class based on note taking to more from that norm. I believe that project based learning will continue to evolve and student involvement will become stronger.
My grandfather said, “necessity is the mother of invention.” It is necessary for schools to develop classrooms that are fun, engaging, thought provoking, and that prepare us to have leadership competency.
As young students we were encouraged to become independent thinkers and to even color outside the lines. Somewhere along the years, it became more important to memorize facts and not question the how or why. Teachers are given benchmarks to meet and students are graded on their “good faith effort”. Shouldn’t there be a good faith effort by every school district and teacher to help all students become creative in looking for ways to solve problems. What good is any information if it cannot be applied to the present and future?
The article states that by middle school students have quit asking questions and this is when motivation and engagement plummet. It also tells us they do not stop asking questions because they lost interest; rather they lost interest because they stopped asking questions. What does this information mean to educators, maybe what has worked in the past, works no longer. Learning needs to be fun and engaging, it should meet the needs of all types of learners. Classes with students remaining in their seats having information delivered to them and not allowing the student to contribute are in need of changing. Students will become bored and act out, teachers will become frustrated with the students and not only is there little learning occurring, there is less teaching as well. A creative classroom welcomes organized chaos-students out of seat, talking with each other and hands on activities.
Students that are taught in a traditional classroom lacking creativity have reduced problem solving skills. Project based learning prepares us for the future in many ways-to work with others, to value the opinions of others, to view a problem, and solution from many sides and to develop a plan of action. While project based learning activities may help meet the needs of students they may require more work from already stressed educators. Will all educators see the need for creativity in the classroom? It would seem difficult for a teacher that has had a successful testing class based on note taking to more from that norm. I believe that project based learning will continue to evolve and student involvement will become stronger.
My grandfather said, “necessity is the mother of invention.” It is necessary for schools to develop classrooms that are fun, engaging, thought provoking, and that prepare us to have leadership competency.