Until I read the assigned readings for this class, I thought creativity was something students either possessed or did not. I never realized that creativity has to be taught. On pages 136 and 137, Egbert offers some guidelines for supporting student creativity with technology. She says teachers should:
1. Create an enriched environment. She says rewards, time pressures, overmonitoring, competition, restricted choice, and high-stakes evaluation can smother creativity.
2. Teach techniques. Brainstorming is one of the most effective techniques. Teachers must accept any ideas given. They shouldn’t stop to discuss ideas but should piggyback on ideas in an effort to generate even more ideas.
3. Let students show what they can do, rather than what they cannot. High-stakes testing shows what they can’t do. Teachers should provide projects which allow students to be creative and show their strengths, not their weaknesses.
4. Teach respect for ideas and people. By making students feel accepted and comfortable, teachers make it safe for students to show their creativity. They don’t feel threatened.
I plan to keep these guidelines in mind in order to foster creativity in the students I teach. I want to share them with my colleagues in case they, like me, never realized that creativity is something that must be taught.
Egbert, J. (2009). Supporting learning with technology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
PBL Final Project Reflection
16 years ago
You made a very important point about creativity! I think that creative thinking skills come easier to some students while it can be a struggle for others. It is important for us to include many opportunities for students to think creatively in our classrooms and guide our students that struggle through the process.
ReplyDelete