As our society moves through the 21st century, parents, educators, the business community and policymakers must understand that new structures of schooling should emphasize the skills that students will need to be successful in their future. This is challenging. Adults tend to generalize from their own experiences inhibiting their ability to conceptualize from a different perspective. The reality is that most of us were educated in schools where structure & control, rules and consequences, rote learning and analytical thinking were perhaps over-emphasized. Today’s students definitely need to develop a solid academic foundation but they also need to develop a solid creative foundation. For too many years, we have pitted these two schools of thought against each other. It’s time to reconsider the arts vs. academics debate by expanding our thinking to a higher level.
In order to be successful in today’s rapidly changing global landscape, students need to become sophisticated knowledge brokers and knowledge creators. In order to do this successfully, schools need to devote equal time to the arts and academics. Additionally, we must expand our notion of the arts. They are about creativity, expression and innovation. The arts provide an entry point to develop the creative left side of the brain. We must develop both the left side and the more analytical right side of our brain equally. As Daniel Pink points out in A Whole New Mind, it’s not “either, or” anymore. It’s “both”!
We believe that we can better ensure our students develop both sides fully by helping the adults that work with them get in touch with their latent, yet largely undeveloped creativity and innovation skills. Adults need to become more comfortable with their creative side so that they can nurture creativity in their students. More importantly, they need to learn to value creativity and innovation and consider how it can help them reach and engage all students so they can become more fully developed humans.
Some of our favorite creativity resources include:
Why Creative Education is Important for Kids
The Universal Traveler: A Creative Guide to Creative Problem-Solving
Isaac Asimov on Creativity in Education
Ed deBono on Creative Thinking
International Center for Studies in Creativity
Favorite Videos
RSA Animate – Changing Educational Paradigms
RSA Animate - Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
The Importance of Frustration in the Creative Process, Animated
