Promoting Creativity to Stimulate Learning

Format

Poster Presentation

Location

Vereist

Strand #1

Academic Achievement & School Leadership

Strand #2

Social & Emotional Skills

Relevance

Learning how to be more creative (and thus adaptable) prepares students for life beyond the classroom. Creativity is a crucial skill for everybody to master to be prepared for technology-driven and problem-solving jobs. This session provides participants with an understanding of creativity and how creative thinking builds upon and reconstructs students’ conceptual knowledge which boosts academic achievement and self-esteem.

Brief Program Description

Creativity among children is declining due to the pressure of high-stake testing, but has proven to be a necessary thinking skill to boost students’ learning. In this session, participants will learn how to promote creativity and entrepreneurship, a crucial 21st century skill, through the power of creative play. Target Audience: elementary, middle and high school teachers, school counselors, & parents

Summary

Creative thinking fosters valuable skills that can influence the learning abilities in students and adults. Researchers, such as Sternberg (1999) and Florida (2005), have found a link between creativity and intelligence: when creative thinking is an integral part of the education curriculum, then students tend to amplify active learning. The elements of creativity--motivation and self-awareness, flexible and original thinking, the tendency to take risks and ask questions, and the ability to imagine not just an alternative solution to a problem but a workable, achievable result—are actually survival skills for the 21st century. However, creativity does not arise in a vacuum; it requires a certain degree of both general knowledge and field-specific knowledge primarily provided in the classroom or other types of learning opportunities. In order to promote creativity in students, educators need to transform their classroom into a world of discovery and innovation. One way of developing this transformation is through creative play. In the session, the participants will learn how to promote creativity and entrepreneurship through the following:

  • Gain an overview of the current research about teaching creativity and why there is a decline of creative thinking among children within the past 10 year.
  • Receive a list of creative techniques that are quick and easy to implement in the classroom. This list addresses various ways to integrate creative thinking with the 4 core subject areas: Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
  • Learn about Caine’s Arcade (2012) that launched a movement to celebrate the natural creative talents of every child. The presenter will explain how to establish an imagination chapter with the Imagination Foundation where students create, develop, and build arcades using cardboard boxes.
  • Acquire research-based strategies to institute STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) projects and activities school wide.

Evidence

In 2010, a study was conducted to evaluate 44 schools that used creative approaches to learning. These schools aspired for their students to ask questions independently, make connections between ideas, think creatively, challenge and participate effectively, and reflect on their learning. As a result of integrating creative thinking throughout the 4 core subject areas: Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, the students’ academic achievement level was better than average in all of the core subject areas. Students expressed an enjoyment in learning and developed confidence in sharing their work. For more information about the study, go to http://www.creativitycultureeducation.org/

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Dawn White, Technology Coach with Gwinnett County Public Schools, has taught elementary children for 29 years in a low – middle income diverse community. For 20 years, she was a gifted program teacher promoting critical and creative thinking. She specializes in developing active learning environment that promotes constructivist approach, encouraging learners to use real world problem solving to construct knowledge. She collaborates with colleague and recruit speakers from the community to bring relevant information to the classroom. With an Ed. D. degree in Educational Leadership, Dr. White has written curriculum using project-based and problem-based inquiry-based methods of learning emphasizing simulation projects that connects with societal issues. She has been awarded grants to fund special projects that enhance the learning experiences of students and has presented at national and state conferences.

Keyword Descriptors

creativity, critical thinking, constructivist, differentiation, inquiry, leadership, responsibility, technology

Presentation Year

2016

Start Date

3-8-2016 2:45 PM

End Date

3-8-2016 4:00 PM

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Mar 8th, 2:45 PM Mar 8th, 4:00 PM

Promoting Creativity to Stimulate Learning

Vereist

Creativity among children is declining due to the pressure of high-stake testing, but has proven to be a necessary thinking skill to boost students’ learning. In this session, participants will learn how to promote creativity and entrepreneurship, a crucial 21st century skill, through the power of creative play. Target Audience: elementary, middle and high school teachers, school counselors, & parents