A curriculum consists of much more than a collection of courses. It consists of everything from people and environment to extra-curricular activities and pedagogy. Creativity is not only something embedded in art, design, drama and dance but can also be found in STEM subjects and thought that crosses disciplinary boundaries. Perhaps we need to embed creativity in the broadest curricular sense, not just as a skill that can be fostered among students but recognizing that taking control of a curriculum on an administrative level requires the circumstances that enable creativity to flourish. It is likely that fostering creativity in learning begins by fostering creative thinking at the administrative levels that govern colleges. Just like students in the classroom, administrators should be empowered by the system to take the risk of making a mistake without harsh punishment, exercising entrepreneurship and promoting collaborative, interdisciplinary thinking. Who knows? Maybe some creativity from the level of administration will trickle down to have a profound affect on tomorrow's leaders?
Sir Ken Robinson returned to TED in 2010 to reinvigorate our focus on creativity in education:
The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.- See more at: http://quotationsbook.com/quote/44576/#sthash.GMkNFPGd.dpuf
I think Creativity is tied to the Learning Paradigm. Maybe the Boring is tied to the Instruction Paradigm. Creativity is so much fun! But some are so set in their ways--wagons in deep ruts--the inability to teach an old (resistant) dog new tricks--that change is a long time coming. You have to have the right environment to foster its growth; an equation with balanced variables.
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