Creativity is open to wide
interpretation and seems to have no precise and universally accepted
definition. It can mean different things to different people from: artistic
talent, being imaginative or inventive, taking risks, challenging convention, coming up
with original and valued ideas to daring to be different.
I wanted to gain a better
understanding of creativity and its relevance in education so I found some
definitions from a variety of sources.
“to create – to bring into
existence”
Oxford Engish Dictionary (1982)
“Creativity means connecting
the previously unconnected in ways that are new and meaningful to the
individual concerned.”
Duffy (1998: p18)
“Creativity is a thinking and
responding process that involves connecting with our previous experience,
responding to stimuli (objects, symbols, ideas, people, situations) and
generating at least one unique combination.”
Parnes (1963: p5)
“creativity is a powerful
capacity of human intelligence, rather than a subject or an event. It is
relevant to everyone and to everyday life and embraces both individual and
collaborative activities.”
Prentice (200: p156)
“The creating mind develops new
ideas, practices and procedures, solves complex problems and is innovative.
Like the disciplined mind, the creative mind does not rest once something has
been created, but is constantly motivated to risk failure and continue to
develop and create.”
Johnston and Nahmad-williams
(2009: p120)
Creativity can mean different
things in different contexts. One thing I have realised is that it is no longer
considered to be exclusively the preserve of the arts and is possible in any
activity that engages our intelligence. We can be creative in anything we do!
Through my reading I am now
starting to see that creativity is important on a national and global level for
economic growth and development, but on a more personal level it is important
for self-esteem and motivation.
LTS
Creativity (2010), states that:
“Pupils who are
encouraged to think creatively:
· become
more interested in discovering things for themselves
· are
more open to new ideas and challenges
· are
more able to solve problems
· can
work well with others
· become
more effective learners
· have
greater ownership over their learning.”
This supports Curriculum for
Excellence and in my opinion is what teaching and learning should be about.
Children are naturally creative
and if we want to educate people for the future, I believe that we must nourish
and help to develop creativity in our young learners. The LTS creativity portal(2010) is a new resource which aims to
inspire creativity in learning and teaching.
References
Duffy, B. (1998) Supporting Creativity and Imagination in the Early Years. Buckingham, Philadelphia: Open University Press.
Johnston, J. and Nahmad-Williams, L. (2009). Early Childhood Studies. Essex: Pearson education Limited.
Learning and Teaching Scotland (2010). Creativity. Available:
[Accessed 21/09/2011]
Parnes, S. (1963) Development of Individual Creative Talent, in Taylor, C.W & Barrons, F. (eds.)Scientific Creativity: its Recognition and Development. New York: Wiley.
Prentice, R. (2002) Creativity- a reaffirmation of its place in early childhood education. The Curriculum Journal, Vol 11 No 2. Summer 2000.
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