Post by rachelnewcomb on Aug 5, 2011 17:12:35 GMT -5
Facts are easily accessible due to the far-reaching capabilities of modern technology. I can quickly do a Google search to find the formula for the surface area of a sphere, then plug numbers into a calculator. An answer can be achieved in a nearly mindless matter. In such a world creativity becomes all the more important; more unique, more valuable.
Our current educational system has no problem forcing all students into one mold. Students of all shapes, sizes and abilities are pushed to reach similar standards in math, reading, writing and science, but where are our standards for creativity?
Bronson and Merryman are willing to attribute some of the blame for our creativity crisis to our schools: “One likely culprit is the number of hours kids now spend in front of the TV and playing video games rather than engaging in creative activities. Another is the lack of creativity development in schools. In effect, its left to the luck of the draw who becomes creative: there’s no concerted effort to nurture the creativity of all children.” The article went on stating, “Overwhelmed by curriculum standards, American teachers warn there’s no room in the day for a creativity class.” Room in the day must be made. Creative thinking can be woven into any curriculum with the proper planning and consideration. Project-based learning being a prime example. Regardless of how it is implemented, creativity needs to be a priority in the American education system in order for our nation to maintain any degree of global competitiveness. Without innovative thinking society will remain stagnant. Creative thinking is the only solution for solving today’s biggest problems and the problems of the future. Successful individuals, historical figures who have impacted the world, did so with new and different thinking, not by regurgitating sentences from a textbook. Innovation does not come from rote memorization or mechanical thought, but instead from original, independent thought.
Too many people think you either have creativity or you don’t. You’re either an artist, a dancer, a storyteller or you are born without it. Our schools cultivate reading skills, mathematical skills, so why is teaching creativity so absurd? Creativity doesn’t only belong in the art room as the author said, “The age-old belief that the arts have a special claim to creativity is unfounded.” Artists are creative but so are cutting-edge engineers and entrepreneurs. I believe the lack of creativity development is a tragedy. Think of the possible inventors, artists and innovators we’ve already lost, just by not fostering a greater sense of inventiveness from a young age. We understand the neurological processes behind creativity. The author described, “Creativity requires constant shifting, blender pulses of both divergent thinking and convergent thinking, to combine new information with old and forgotten ideas.” We have the tools to develop creativity for generations to come, so why would we not? Bronson and Merryman stated in the article, “The problems we face now, and in the future, simply demand that we do more than just hope for inspiration to strike.” We will have to. It’s a matter of when and how. How desperate will we let the creativity crisis become before we begin promoting creativity?
Our current educational system has no problem forcing all students into one mold. Students of all shapes, sizes and abilities are pushed to reach similar standards in math, reading, writing and science, but where are our standards for creativity?
Bronson and Merryman are willing to attribute some of the blame for our creativity crisis to our schools: “One likely culprit is the number of hours kids now spend in front of the TV and playing video games rather than engaging in creative activities. Another is the lack of creativity development in schools. In effect, its left to the luck of the draw who becomes creative: there’s no concerted effort to nurture the creativity of all children.” The article went on stating, “Overwhelmed by curriculum standards, American teachers warn there’s no room in the day for a creativity class.” Room in the day must be made. Creative thinking can be woven into any curriculum with the proper planning and consideration. Project-based learning being a prime example. Regardless of how it is implemented, creativity needs to be a priority in the American education system in order for our nation to maintain any degree of global competitiveness. Without innovative thinking society will remain stagnant. Creative thinking is the only solution for solving today’s biggest problems and the problems of the future. Successful individuals, historical figures who have impacted the world, did so with new and different thinking, not by regurgitating sentences from a textbook. Innovation does not come from rote memorization or mechanical thought, but instead from original, independent thought.
Too many people think you either have creativity or you don’t. You’re either an artist, a dancer, a storyteller or you are born without it. Our schools cultivate reading skills, mathematical skills, so why is teaching creativity so absurd? Creativity doesn’t only belong in the art room as the author said, “The age-old belief that the arts have a special claim to creativity is unfounded.” Artists are creative but so are cutting-edge engineers and entrepreneurs. I believe the lack of creativity development is a tragedy. Think of the possible inventors, artists and innovators we’ve already lost, just by not fostering a greater sense of inventiveness from a young age. We understand the neurological processes behind creativity. The author described, “Creativity requires constant shifting, blender pulses of both divergent thinking and convergent thinking, to combine new information with old and forgotten ideas.” We have the tools to develop creativity for generations to come, so why would we not? Bronson and Merryman stated in the article, “The problems we face now, and in the future, simply demand that we do more than just hope for inspiration to strike.” We will have to. It’s a matter of when and how. How desperate will we let the creativity crisis become before we begin promoting creativity?