Friday, April 8, 2016
Creativity?
Authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman published “The Creativity Crisis” in Newsweek.com in July 2010. They
reported that the Torrance Test, a test of creativity that has been administered to millions of people worldwide in
50 languages, indicates that the public’s “creativity quotient” has steadily crept downward since 1990. In their
article, Bronson and Merryman cite the claim of Professor Kyung Hee Kim at the College of William and Mary:
“It’s very clear, and the decrease is very significant.” Kim reports that it is the scores of younger children in
America—from kindergarten through sixth grade—for whom the decline is “most serious.”
Bronson and Merryman state that “[t]he potential consequences are sweeping. The necessity of human ingenuity is
undisputed. A recent IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the No. 1 ‘leadership competency’ of the
future. Yet it’s not just about sustaining our nation’s economic growth. All around us are matters of national and
international importance that are crying out for creative solutions, from saving the Gulf of Mexico to bringing peace
to Afghanistan to delivering health care. Such solutions emerge from a healthy marketplace of ideas, sustained by a
populace constantly contributing original ideas and receptive to the ideas of others.”
One possible approach to this reputed decline in creativity is to explicitly teach creative thinking in school. Write to
your school board explaining what you mean by creativity and arguing for or against the creation of a class in
creativity.
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ECCHS School Board,
ReplyDeleteContrary to what many believe, I do not think that the "Creativity Crisis" can be solved by establishing a class in schools to specifically teach creativity. As someone who artistic who also enjoys creative writing, I believe that creativity is an important value that helps our world significantly. However, the issues that cause creativity decline cannot be eradicated by just creating another class, but rather must be faced head on by dealing with more deep-seated issues.
A common reason that creativity is on the decline is one that not many people are willing to hear. Technology today makes it easy for kids to always have something to do. When I started drawing and painting as a young child, it was usually when it was raining or too cold to go outside, or my friends were busy. I put my energy into learning how to do something that would expand my creativity and help me in the long run. Today, an eight year old might turn to pointless games or Instagram to satisfy their need to relieve boredom. This might provide a good distraction temporarily, but in the end they haven't helped themselves at all. Having the time and curiosity to actually think about things is what drives creativity in children.
Another reason that creativity is shrinking is because of corrupted values pertaining to what makes a person important. Today, with standardized testing ruling who we think is the smartest and sports determining who we think works the hardest, creativity is put by the wayside in order for children to be able to "earn their place" in society. Why would parents and teachers focus on making a child an abstract thinker when the only thing that will supposedly get him or her into college is memorizing vocabulary or being really good at basketball? Children will become more creative when all people realize that there is never just one value that makes a person worth investing in. A creativity class will not change people's attitudes on what standards we judge our children.
Finally, a creativity class would be unsuccessful because creativity is not something one can teach in a classroom. What would be the focus of the class, and how would teachers actually teach creativity? Would they do it by supplying riddles and asking kids to solve them? How is this showing creativity when there is only one answer or a question? This method wouldn't work because every person develops their creativity in a different way, at a different rate. Children who excel at math might find their creativity involving numbers and different methods to make these numbers make sense to them and others. Children who are like I was at a young are might find their creativity in art or music, and children who ask questions and make up their own naive solutions to political issues might find their creativity in a that way. In order to be creative, one must be curious about the subject. This is something that cannot be taught in a classroom, but rather requires real world experience.
Catherine:
DeleteYou usually are the "contrary to what many people think" one (it's good to be that person) so I wasn't surprised to see you take this side. I think you made solid points. One thing I question is that you didn't really say why the class would be unsuccessful until the third paragraph. In the second paragraph you explained why kids are no longer creative thinkers and how people only look for one value in people. I disagree with that statement, because I think people are after the "all-around" type of person that has many qualities, not just the star basketball player. For example, how many times do we see athletes with Division I talent playing Division II or III becuase their grades are poor. I do agree with the way kids spend their time now, and I think it is absurd. Overall, I think you made a solid argument and I agree with a lot of your points. Good work!
Catherine,
DeleteFrom your love of art I really thought you would support a class on creativity, but yet again, your oppinions have surprised me. After looking at your argument, I completely understood why you took that position. I never took into account whether or not creativity would actually be able to be taught, I simply thought of reasons it would be beneficial for students to learn. I do feel that schools would be able to find a method of teaching creative practices though. I wouldn't necessarily deem creativity unteachable, rather the school board would need to create a method of bringing out the creative side of students. Although it may not be able to be "out rightly" taught, the simple act of engaging in creative activity on a regular basis can help a student become more creative. Also, a class would reduce the risk of students being distracted by technology because they would be focusing on creative activities during that time, so in a way, a class can prevent some of those problems working against creativity.
Dear Administration of Elk County Catholic School System:
ReplyDeleteThe creation of a course that helps one to think more creatively will be a great success. As studies have continued to show, creativity in individuals is a quality that has recently become a rarity. This class will not just help out the students individually, but it will be a positive thing for our world as a whole.
Sparking a class that helps students to increase their creativity will help them in many different aspects of life. First, I am describing creativity as a tool where one not only thinks, but acts differently in a positive way, a way that might mean taking a different path.For example, this might teach a young man or women to step out of their comfort zone and do something they normally wouldn't do. Also, it will help students to start thinking in a more profound way which will increase their intellect. The students will become smarter in the worldly aspect because they will be used to thinking creatively, causing them to carry this into the real world and into their jobs. Such thinking in jobs could help solve problems such as saving the Gulf of Mexico and bringing peace to Afghanistan, which were previously suggested. This creative thinking course will also help students to think outside of the box in the classroom. A student might think of a different way to solve for x in their algebra class, and this is what we want because it's good to be a little different,something our world tries to sell as a bad quality. In this class, I believe that a certain type of teacher is a necessity. A teacher with great passion, not only for teaching, but one with lots of energy would make students look forward to being there because it's more than a boring math or English class. This class has a lot of potential and is something that you as administration should seriously consider.
The biggest question is why would this be beneficial? When one starts to become more of a creative thinker, he/she improves their personal life by always thinking of ways to improve it in creative ways. Maybe someone looks for ways to improve relationships with their friends or their kids when it gets to that time. This improvement that sparks from creative thinking is the one thing that puts individuals ahead of others. If someone is a creative person and a creative thinker, when they put these skills to use they differentiate themselves from others. This class would help our students of Elk County Catholic differentiate themselves from others also when applying for jobs in the future because an IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs listed creativity as the number one ‘leadership competency’ of the future, therefore creativity is an important quality for our students to have before leaving high school. We are always looking for ways to improve our school and for something to give us the edge, and I think this is one of those things.
The class should be offered not only to high school students, but I suggest we begin this class in our elementary school, and carry it into our middle school and high school. It is important to start this class at a young age because Professor Kyung Hee Kim at the College of William and Mary researched and said that the area where creative thinking is the worst is starting in kindergarten to sixth grade. Helping kids grow through creative thinking starting in kindergarten all the way up through high school will better their future and impact the rest of society positively.
Gabe,
DeleteI agree with many of your points in this essay, especially that the class's success is dependent upon a good teacher. I also enjoyed your statistics. I think they provided a good support for your points. I also agree that the class should be taught in several levels of schooling. Great job this week Gabe.
G-Baby
DeleteI like how you described creativity as a tool that allows them to step out of their comport zone, it is a great way of describing creativity. Your point of a great teacher is essential to the success of the class is completely correct. Your stat about CEOs gives your argument good authority and backs up your argument really well.
Gabe,
DeleteWhen you described creativity, I couldn't help but think of Coach Buchheit and his words: "Be comfortable with being uncomfortable." I like how you explain the class in terms of its ability to help students think more profoundly and find other methods to "solve for x." This establishes its appeal to not only creative thinkers, but to logical and rational thinkers as well. In your conclusion, you effectively tied your belief of starting the class at a younger age with the results of a conducted study. In your last body paragraph, I thought it was essential that you answered the question of "why." After all, people need a purpose for doing things. Nice work.
Gabe,
DeleteYou make solid points in your blog, and while I don't agree with you, I can see your point of view clearly. I think that saying a creativity class would need a great teacher is very true. And the concept would work, except you would need some pretty great students as well. All students would have to want to learn creativity or it wouldn't work, and then you could argue that a student who wants to learn how to be creative doesn't need the class at all.
Elk County Catholic School Board,
ReplyDeleteCreativity is a highly desired trait in an employee no matter where they choose to work. It is responsible for giving a person important traits such as individuality, the ability to invent new products, and the capacity to solve problems. If a class on creativity is taught in our schools, students can go much further in their futures. It will broaden job opportunities for students. Without creativity, individuality will be scarce. Dictionary.com defines creativity as "the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination." Without this trait, originality and individuality would be lost. Originality is what keeps the workplace going because without new ideas, how can a business move forward? In addition, creativity is mainly responsible for ideas for new products in businesses. If students never learn how to utilize creativity, the creation and evolution of new products will cease to exist. America's economy relies on sales and distribution of new products that would not exist without creative minds. Lastly, creativity gives students the ability to find different methods of performing a task. It gives them flexibility in their interactions with people. Therefore, if there is a conflict in the workplace, they can use creative means to find a new way to handle it. Schools are responsible for giving their students the tools they need to succeed in their future workplaces, and creativity is a necessary component of that success. Students are the future of our country, and if they do not possess the creativity that is necessary for our businesses and workplaces to thrive, the future of our country will be obsolete. Not only will classes on creativity make our students more marketable in the future, but it will contribute to the future success of our country.
Jenna,
DeleteI really liked how you incorporated the future aspects to the benefits of learning creativity. Also you brought up how creativity is a highly desirable and sought out trait.
Jenna,
DeleteI enjoyed reading your opinions on this subject, and I believe that you did present several great points. However, I believe it is impossible to teach a person how to be creative. Creativity is a quality that we have and the only way to learn it is by doing the things we love the most.
Jenna,
DeleteI agree with the fact that developing creativity is essential for things in the future, such as future occupations. Unique inventions and ideas are undoubtably the cause of creative minds of people. I also enjoyed how you said schools are responsible to provide students with the tools they need for the future, and this class on creativity is definitely an essential tool.
Dear Administration of Elk County School System,
ReplyDeleteThe introduction of class that teaches creative thinking could have major effects on the life of the student, but there are many issues that also come along with this idea of teaching creativity to students. Creativity is an innate quality that comes from a combination of genetics and the way of life. A single class that teaches this will not be able to teach creativity to students effectively. This class is great in idea, but lacks an effective way to teach this how could you teach creativity? How can you teach someone something that must come from within? Creativity must come from someone's own thoughts and experiences, and can not be taught in a academic sense. Creative thinking comes from curiosity and a natural desire to learn and question life. The horrific loss of creativity that our country is experiencing, is a product of children being content to do nothing else besides to spend time on social media. The rise of social media and the Internet has also lead to a loss of reading books in our culture. I used to take what ever book I was reading everywhere I went, so that I could read as much as I could. Most people detest books and think of them as long and boring, I believe that their is a possible link between the decline of books and the loss of creativity.
Technology has be an keystone for our society in the last decade. It has lead to many great advancements in the world, and has been an incredible addition to the daily life of humans. It does have some drawbacks though, it allows student to cheat at an alarming rate. This leads many students to believe that they do not need to do any work and therefore cheat because it is the easy way out. This mean that not only are they cheating, but they also miss out on many worksheets and problems that could lead to advanced thought and effect their perception of the world. I agree with the idea that something must be done to reverse the loss of creativity in the United States, but a creative thinking class it not enough. It needs to be done on a lifestyle bias and a change of attitude. If this can be accomplished, then it is very possible that creativity can come back and rejuvenate the nation.
Creativity is not math or science, it can not be taught like a class. It needs to be taught as a lifestyle not a class you take for half a year and then you are just done. If it is taught like this then the class will have no positive effects on the students, and will only waste their time and money. I am not totally convinced that creative thinking can be taught, creativity is like breathing you instinctively know how to do it form birth. It can not just be taught to everyone.
Creativity is on the decline in the United States due to the mindsets of the youth and their interactions with technology. Technology is a monumental addition to our society, but it is holding back our creative skills. It allows students to cheat their way thought school and not learn anything. The creative thinking class is great in idea, but the proper execution to get their most out of the class may not be possible. Creativity is an innate quality that is shaped by our genetics and our lifestyle growing up. Reading, writing, music, arts, and drama productions can all positively effect our creative thinking, while social media and cheating out of work negativity effects it. The idea of the class is great, but to change creativity a change in lifestyle and thought process must be changed to have an effect.
Mitchell,
DeleteI enjoyed what you had to say on this subject. I also agreed with many of the points you made, like how creativity is an innate quality. However, I do believe that technology is a large issue in the lack of creativity, but I do not believe that it is the only issue.
Mitchell,
DeleteFirst, I would like to acknowledge your link between the loss of creativity and the decline of indulgence in reading. I think you made a very strong point because literature has the ability to affect the mind in unimaginable ways and stimulate creativity. In addition, your outlook on technology is paradoxical. The invention of technology itself displayed mankind's creativity, but now its effect on the human mind is anticlimactic. Furthermore, creativity does not need to be taught like a class, it can be nurtured through a different, unique encounter. After all, if schools say they prepare their students for the future, don't you think school environments should have some type of experience that is relatable to real world situations?
Mitchell,
DeleteI completely agree with you on your blog. I think that people cannot be forced to "learn" creativity when it means different things to different people. If a teacher believes in a single sort of creativity, and a child excels in a different type, that child will be seen as failing in an aspect of his life that is very important. Also, I think reading is a great link to creativity and I'm glad you pointed it out. Reading leads you to question everything, and having no creativity means you question nothing. I know that if I were Ina "creativity" class as a young child, I would question what they were saying and it would not benefit me, not because I wasn't creative enough, but because creativity is something only you can do for yourself.
Dear Elk County Catholic School Board:
ReplyDeleteDespite what recent tests and studies have shown, I do not think a creativity class would be beneficial to the students in our school system. Creativity is not something that can be taught or learned. Creativity is something that simply exists in a person. We do not have the ability to teach someone how to be creative. The definition of creativity specifically includes someone's original ideas, and by teaching students how to be creative in a class, it takes away the originality of their own ideas and they almost turn into forced thoughts.
A creativity class could not be successful because it is human characteristic that exists on its own without having to learn how to do it. If a person is going to have the characteristic of creativity, then they must find out how to be creative on their own. From when I was three years old until now I have been involved in dance, and I began learning how to play different instruments since I was ten years old. Both of these activities have been a part of my life for years and I have always been able to carry my love for them into my everyday life. By being a part of artistic and creative activities, I learned how to think creatively. I did not have to take a class that would teach me how to be creative in specific situations.
Another issue that would make a creative thinking class difficult is that creativity is different for every person. Some people may only think that doing something artistic like drawing is creative, however, athletics and sports can contain creativity. In order to make the a class that can truly teach creativity, you would have to find a teacher that is able to connect creativity to every aspect of life with every different variable that could possibly exist. There are millions of different ways to think creatively, and in today's world, some people will not find each of these solutions to be creative. However, true creativity is found in one's own imagination and original ideas.
Even though studies have shown that a creativity class that teaches creative thinking will help students to become more creative, I believe that it is simply too difficult to teach creativity. It is something that we each must discover on our own through the things we love the most. By teaching creative thinking, we lose some of the originality involved in the creative process.
Hailee,
DeleteI agree that creativity is often existing in a person without being taught, but I disagree that it cannot be learned. People have the wrong mind set when it comes to creativity, and a class can help students express their ideas instead of bottling them up inside. People tend to stay in their comfort zone, and I think this class could help people break out of that zone and explore new territory. You made some good points that can be argued, but personally I think a class on creativity is capable of working.
Hailee:
DeleteI enjoyed taking in your thoughts on the possibility of this type of class. I understand what you are saying that you cannot teach creativity, but you stated that you learned creativity through dance. So without that dance "class" you might not be that same creative person. I get your point, but don't you see this class as a little "push", if you will, to help students to start thinking like this. You argued your stance well, good work!
Hailee,
DeleteI liked reading your blog and listening to your thought. You made some good point but I would have to disagree with you on how creativity can not be learned because it can. Everyone has their own imagination and they need to be taught how to use it and find it in themselves. This class would not be taking away their own thoughts it would be teaching them how to find their thoughts and imagination. Although I disagree with you, you did argue it very well, so great job!!!
Dear School Board,
ReplyDeleteCreativity in the world is the reason for many of the great things that happen everyday. Although, a study has shown a recent decline in creativity in children especially those from kindergarten through sixth grade. So after seeing this statistic, the question is this something that could be detrimental to our society? I believe the answer to that question is yes. I think a class on creativity should be put in place in order to give young students an opportunity to express their ideas and develop their creativity skills.
Expressing interest outside the normal comfort zone of a person is extremely important for kids at a young age. Having our own opinions and ideas is crucial in life, and I believe that it is important to be a leader not a follower. In order to be a leader, creativity must be one of your tools. Thinking outside the box and going above and beyond the norm is how amazing things happen in this world. Like it was said in the reading, a solution is begging to be created to help save the Gulf Coast. It is not gonna just happen on its own, therefore I believe this creativity class can help our generation become brilliant people who can branch out on their own without the fear of doing something different.
In today's society, no one looks to be unique. It seems as if society pushes for logic instead of encouraging people to be creative and think of their own ideas. I often hear people comment saying I'm not creative, I can't do this. Looking back on that, I realized I feel the same way. I feel as if I am not an overly creative person, and taking a class would not only be beneficial but enjoyable.
A class on creativity will greatly benefit each student. A class to help a student express their own ideas and opinions can be health and effective. This class will not only help now, but I think this skill becomes more and more crucial as a person grows up. Encouraging students to think outside the box should be one of the main points in this class, and by doing this I think we can solve the decline of creativity in children,
Board of the Elk County Catholic School System,
ReplyDeleteIt has come to my attention, in light of a recently published Newsweek.com article titled "The Creativity Crisis," that the level of creativity demonstrated by students has progressively declined over the years. Such research poses a threat to a world that is yearning for qualities of inventiveness and imagination. Certainly it must be in your best interest to address a problem of such magnitude, as our students are the minds and thinkers of future society.
That being said, what exactly is creativity? According to creativityatwork.com, "Creativity is characterized by the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions." It is a deep process that involves thinking, producing, and applying. It is not formally taught, but it is something that can be nurtured through daily experiences rendered by the school. Perhaps the closing of our mission statement can be modified from "...nurturing the values of knowledge, peace, and holiness" to "...nurturing the values of creativity, peace, and holiness." How, then, could the curriculum be adjusted? Realistically speaking, I think a co-curricular creative thinking class, similar to the function of past enrichment classes, would be ideal. It would not be a required course, but rather something that the students must take the initiative to encounter. They would be permitted to miss a regular class, pending consent from the instructor and with the responsibility to make up any assigned work, and go to this creative thinking class. Although, students themselves must possess the desire to transcend their standard frame of mind. This experience could complement regular studies, present material in a more profound and interactive approach, and encourage collaboration among students by freeing them from the burden of a grade. Too many classes are primarily centralized on attaining the perfect grade, which in turn, leads students to indulge in the same process over and over again: Go to class. "Learn" the material. Study. Take the test. Forget. Repeat. As an athlete and weightlifter, I can provide relatable insight to the correlation between academics and creativity. There is a general saying in sports. "You can't teach speed." It's true. I can show you all the ins and outs of running a forty yard dash, but I cannot teach you how to run it in 4.2 seconds. The same pertains to creativity. I might be able to activate your mind in some way, but I cannot really "teach" you how to be creative. In addition, if I go in the weight room and perform an identical routine everyday, I will retain my strength but in reality my body will not muscularly enhance. Likewise, scientists have found that the brain has functions similar to that of a muscle. If knowledge is constantly instilled through the same rational process, the brain will never grow and develop, adjust to change, or learn how to apply knowledge...
Einstein himself, arguably the greatest innovator and thinker, confirms these intellectual realities: “I never made one of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking." Rational thinking is still important because it helps execute a creation into something manageable, but new ideas do not spontaneously generate. They must first be imagined. Of course, this entire proposal requires a partnership between the student body and you, the school board. The students must actively engage in this opportunity and have the necessary courage to transcend above the norm, to an open mind. In return, the board has to provide support and develop a working schedule. I thank you for your cooperation and urge you to seriously consider what I have brought forward today. Without a doubt, the students of this school are of the utmost importance and I hope you realize that, by fostering the value of creativity, they will become the brilliant minds of the future.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Jared Braun
ECCSS,
ReplyDeleteCreativity is what fuels our economic growth in the world today. The human minds that have such a high creativity capability are declining more and more. Although there is a need in this world for creativity, I feel that starting a class on creativity would not help with the global issue of the decline in creativity. I feel that creativity is a characteristic that a person is born with. It can't be taught. Creativity is a tool that runs through your mind. It's a natural tool, in which some are gifted with and other aren't. I feel that starting a creativity class would be a lost cause and should not be done.
Ben Troy
Ben,
DeleteI would have to disagree with you. I believe that everyone has a creative part of them they just have to find it.
Dear Elk County Catholic School Board,
ReplyDeleteIn todays society children are becoming more dependent on technology and electronics. Children are not using their imaginations or being creative with things and when they have to do a project or something for school they look it up on the internet. They do not think of things on their own, they always have to have someone else tell them. I believe that if create a class for creative thinking it will help children become less dependent on the internet and be able to find their inner imagination.
We all know that students are less creative today, but we can do something about it. Having a creative thinking class would be a great class so kids can be taught that we can be creative without technology. Children should be taught how to look at thinks and think of different things that an object could be used for or created into. Also teachers in other classes should encourage students to be more creative instead of just letting them use their ipads to look up things. Children just tell themselves that they are not creative and they put that in their head when that is not true. It is something you have to work on, it takes energy and effort to be creative. Nothing in life comes easy and we need to teach children that. They need to work for the things they want. They should not be allowed to just look up things. Parents want their children to succeed and be successful in life and we want our generation to be the next brilliant minds. People today don't even want to try and be unique they always just want to be like everyone else. Children should not think like that they should accept the talents and themselves because God created them so they could be themselves. Even adults are like this and if children and adults do not step up their game then generations to come could be way worse then what it is today. We need to keep our minds sharp and be able to be creative. If a class is created for creative thinking it could change children so much, it would show them that things should be unique. They can become so much happier if they would just be ale to be creative.
As we move forward in life technology becomes more intense and creativity spirals downward. That is not good at all, so we should start now and have a class that teaches creative thinking and encourage children to be creative and not go to technology all the time. If we do this then we could make the next generation a more creative and imaginative group. Let us work together and help children in todays world become more brilliant!!