Creativity in the Classroom

Assignment:  After watching the presentation by Sir Ken Robinson about the role of creativity in schools, post a blog in which you answer the following questions: “Do schools kill creativity? How can you use digital media to bring creativity alive in your classroom?”

 First and foremost-I loved Sir Robinson's talk! I agree with a lot of what he said, and am proud to say that my school fosters the arts for our students. We have dance, Clay Studio, drama, choir, and visual arts for our students. However, we also are bound to the School District fo Philadelphia scripted Core Curriculum, as well as the mandated instructional time for Reading and Math in the daily classroom. This ties our hands in many ways.

I feel lucky. I have a suggested curriculum as a computer teacher. I am able to use creativity in my lessons, and have the freedom to try different things with students. We can synthesize disciplines such as music, art, literacy, writing, science, and math in projects in the computer lab. But, we also are required to teach programs at the request of the principal, so our time is spent with First in Math, Study Island, and now, Achieve 3000 as well.

Fostering creativity can be a challenge when you are required to produce data through programs, and prepare students for the standardized tests. The advantage of the computer lab, is that students have access to a variety of tools to fit their learning style, and they can use these tools to not only create projects for themselves, but for others.

This year, I am going to have our older grades (6th through 8th) use Photobooth video to record commercials about First in Math and Study Island, targeting the younger students (grades 1-3). Glogster can be used to consolidate resources, as well as present themes and subjects in different ways by different students.

School district and state mandated curriculum may stifle creativity, but, there are ways to work with the curriculum and yet be creative with students, as well as teach students to "think outside the box". Life isn't just one list of things to learn to another, but adventures to experience, and thinking outside the box helps prepare students for these life lessons.