Experiencing+and+Facilitating+Creativity+and+Imagination


 * __ “Experiencing and facilitating creativity and imagination” __**

//__ Learners reconceptualising education: widening participation through creative engagement? __// I believe this reading is imperative to my discussion as it implies that education is no longer seen as just preparation for industrial work but education as a life long journey. This shift in educational systems raises the questions between the relationships between schools, unis, workplaces and other areas where learning occurs? __What is your opinion about relationships that school have with either universities or workplaces?__ __Also what would be some possible solutions how to build relationships between schools, universities and work places?__ ... School excursions to visit these areas to see how they could relate the school curriculum to these environments? (Just a suggestion/example). Education systems still incorporate educating children for industrial work but not anywhere near the extent of how it was taught. I believe that this is important in schools as it will be relevant to many students for their life ahead. Some people may argue though that it is not necessary at all and that education should not be directed at teaching for industrial demand. __It would be interesting to hear your point of view whether this still have a place in the school curriculum or not?__ **__“Putting young people’s ideas at the heart of these processes”__** This particular quote is used when talking about future education systems. It is a great quote as it takes the focus off assessment based learning and allows the children to engage in ‘person centred’ learning. I believe that is important to create an atmosphere in the classroom which portrays this dimension of learning. I would love to see learning and education in the classroom been based on children’s interests. It would have many benefits and the engagement side of things would be extremely high. I believe this could be incorporated into the curriculum to a certain degree to change things up from the usual way of teaching. Teachers also were recognising increased quality of work fro lower achieving students. __If you believe ‘personal centred’ learning is appropriate for the classroom, it would be interesting to hear how much time you would like to allocate for this type of learning, either per day or per week?__

//__ “A language for creativity” __// This reading I enjoyed as it demonstrates the main differences between ‘creative teaching’ and ‘teaching for creativity’ which I believe is very important. __These 2 terms may sound the same but have different meanings, or perhaps you believe they intertwine with each other__? **__“Young people’s creative abilities are most likely to be developed in an atmosphere in which the teacher’s creative abilities are properly engaged”__** //‘Creative teaching’// was believed to be teaching using your imagination in ways to make learning interesting and effective. //‘Teaching for creativity’// is believed to enhance the student’s ability to become more creative thinkers. I can see the relationship between the two and how teaching for creativity does involve teaching creatively. I believe that teachers must try to be creativity as possible for a number of reasons including greater results, interest and participation. Although I have never considered in too much depth ways to teach children to become more creative. Originally I assumed that student’s creativity would develop from creative teaching but I can see how teaching children to be creative themselves is important and is an area which should be considered in the curriculum. This sounds great but teaching children to become more creative could be quite a challenging task? After reading this piece I was thinking that observing students during tasks which involve them to think more creative could teach you (the teacher) a great deal. Watching children complete these tasks could help develop your skills on how you could become a more creative teacher. You may pick up ideas children present and this could be incorporated in your teaching. Like many things it may be a trial and error procedure, but as teacher we are always learning.

//__ The Creative Classroom: The Role of Space and Place Toward Facilitating Creativity: __// It is very simple, if you as the educator want to promote creativity in the classroom then providing the students with a classroom environment with 4 plain walls and no colour or enthusiasm will not work at all. Students will follow the lead of the teachers just like if students are aware of a certain topic the teacher does not enjoy teaching they will not enjoy it themselves, students will always pick up this vibe. According to Nuhfer, the best colours to use when preparing a creative classroom are yellow-orange, pale or light green or blue-green. I’m sure if you have 4 white walls the principal will not allow you to take to the walls with a paint brush and paint over the holidays but these are colours to keep in mind when it comes to decorating walls with posters, banners etc. Of course there is a reason behind light and pale colours and that it is believed ‘loud colours cultivate loud ideas’. __I have personally experienced very loud and bright classrooms and I can see how pale colours may have a calmer result on the students. Have you experienced something similar and can you see the logic behind it or do you believe in a bright enthusiastic classroom?__ __ Keeping to the themes or wall colours it is believed that student work displayed on walls will encourage creativity as it is up for show. I completely agree with this statement and every classroom (primary) I have been part of has taken this approach. __ Lloyd believes that natural lighting is the best light to use for the classroom. Of course many classrooms may not have this privilege but if I had access to natural light in my classroom I would try to utilise this as much as possible. It also is a great way to make students aware of little things that can help save electricity as school these days are very involved in making the environment cleaner. As I was reading about lighting and colours in the classroom I was thinking to myself about room temperature and how this has an impact on kids. I was glad to see this was mentioned as I read further on. During a placement of mine I had another friend (student teacher) in the room next door and he often said how stick it was and how he believed this made the kids irritated. My classroom was quite the opposite and it makes sense that having a comfortable room temperature is beneficial for the teacher and students. The reading made a great point that having a cool temperature room promotes movement, activity and creativity.

__ I would be very interested to hear of any other classroom features which had either a positive or negative impact on the children’s behaviour, engagement or learning? __

I hope you enjoyed this written piece and gave you some ideas to consider when promoting creativity and imagination in the classroom. I look forward to your discussion. **__Liam Jackson__** Craft, A. (2005). A Language for Creativity . Creativity in Schools: Tensions and Dilemmas (pp. 17 - 25). Oxon: Routledge
 * Craft, A., Chappell, K., & Twining, P. (2008).  Learners reconceptualising education: widening participation through creative engagement?  Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 45(3), 235-245.
 * Warner, S., & Myers, K. (2010).  The Creative Classroom: The Role of Space and Place Toward Facilitating Creativity . The Technology Teacher, 69(4), 28-34.