by E K Stapleton

Created on: August 05, 2008

To try and pinpoint how to define creativity in education would be impossible. Creativity is the result of personal insight and self expression and therefore can't be defined in definite terms. Levels of creativity may vary in terms of uniqueness, originality or intensity, but in the end creativity is what is perceived in the eyes of the beholder.

School boards themselves may show creativity in the way they run their schools or plan curriculum .New concepts may be developed to address any underlying issues that may be present within that particular school district. For example, schools located in areas prone to high incidents of graffiti may combat the problem by offering selected walls of the school for painting murals. This alleviates the graffiti problems and the students benefit from the chance to express themselves and let their creativity shine through, in a way that is acceptable. This could also be implemented as part of the art curriculum, to add some variance from the classroom setting. This is an undertaking most students would be proud to be a part of.

Teachers show creativity on a daily basis. The subject matter they must teach is predetermined, but the manner in which they teach it is open to endless possibilities. A teacher's job involves keeping the attention of their students for the duration of a class. On top of that they need to capture the student's interest and make the material come alive. This is where creativity goes a long way. Any special talent or interest the teacher has can be used to enhance the learning experience. I have been in a history class where the room was transformed into a re-enactment of the War of 1812. It certainly held our attention and proved a lot more effective than just reading text from a book. The same teacher arrived in class one day donning complete Mohawk attire, including full head dress, to teach the laws enforceable under the Indian Act of 1879. There was never a dull moment in his class and his creativity and charisma always kept our attention and left us wanting to learn more. A good teacher can creatively present any lesson to their students in a way that will leave a lasting impression. Being exposed to the creative side of a teacher will incite the same from their students.

Creativity in students may be an acquired skill. Some may need a little encouragement to think outside of the box, stray from the norm and truly express themselves. School presents many opportunities to let the creative juices flow. Classes such as art and drama are all about expression and creativity, but any subject allows the student to be creative. Elaborate organizing and color coding of a notebook can be a form of self expression or a choreographed dance to show one's interpretation of a literary reading assignment. Creativity may be shown by the initiation of a new school club or submitting an article to the school newspaper. Students display creativity in many ways and whatever outlet they choose should be encouraged and nurtured.

Creativity in education covers a broad spectrum and really can't be defined by any set of standards. It does however play an important role as teachers use their creativity to make the learning process interesting and exciting, and student's creativity serves as a form of self expression and growth.

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