How to Create a School System that Inspires Creativity
As children, we are free to explore our natural creativity and curiosity and pursue projects that interest us the most. As adults, however, we have so many responsibilities and pressures that we often forget to exercise our natural curiosity and creativity. We also lose sight of how valuable those traits are to our daily lives. Luckily, there are ways to bring back your childlike curiosity and creativity as an adult to help improve your life in ways you never imagined!
Celebrate Failure
If a child isn’t taught how to fail, they’ll never be taught how to succeed. Schools should embrace failure as a normal part of learning. The most valuable lesson children can learn is not in test-taking mode but when their comfort zones are stretched and they are challenged by seemingly impossible tasks (i.e., projects, public speaking, etc). Hard things foster self-directed learning, cultivate creativity, and encourage students to overcome challenges as they move toward real-world goals. A key aspect in growing this ability to fail is what I call the Practice Field. When I teach a new skill, I expect students to get it wrong a few times, and slowly progress toward feeling empowered by the new skill. To grade them harshly on that process, to me, is inhumane. Students prosper when they get to practice without fear of losing.
Empower Students
The new workforce requires leaders who can solve problems creatively and collaboratively. By empowering students to explore topics deeply, teach each other, and take on responsibility for their education, we will train our youth with skills relevant to today’s ever-changing workplace. Connecting real-world problems with classroom lessons will increase students’ intrinsic motivation and engagement levels. Another way is to use predictable systems in the classroom whereby students don’t have to learn how to do “the thing” each time, they can focus on learning the content.
Teach Process Not Just Product
Show students how to create art, not just show them pretty pictures. The goal should be for students to know why Picasso made blue and pink lines look like noses, instead of teaching that he used blue and pink paint. We want students asking questions—I wonder what happened in Picasso’s life when he decided blue and pink looked like noses?—instead of passively absorbing skills. Curiosity is far more important than knowledge (and it doesn't require fancy new textbooks and posted objectives). Give students experiences that get them fired up about being learners; give them books and paintings they can analyze. Introduce music theory by showing students how much fun it is to sing along with their favorite artists. Teach English through argument battles or speeches from politicians—these examples go beyond flashcards, think-pair-share games, and memorizing facts on test day. Every student may have different learning styles, but every student can be curious.
Invest in Mindfulness
Research shows that learning improves when teachers are fully engaged, and paying attention can be challenging in hectic classrooms. Mindfulness training—practicing sustained, focused awareness of physical sensations like breathing or heart rate—can help you keep your cool while teaching. And it might make you more creative as well.
Encourage Risk-Taking
When students take risks, they’re learning. When we build our students up and nurture their individual curiosity, we inspire them to create and innovate. Pushing kids out of their comfort zones is crucial for building self-efficacy (the belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to). Kids who fail at something are more likely to have higher test scores in subsequent years because they know they can handle failure.
Engage Students in Meaningful Work
Inquiry-based learning can be more engaging than traditional teaching methods. Instead of simply lecturing, inquiry-based learning requires students to participate in genuine work activities, problem-solving and knowledge creation. This helps students make meaningful connections between what they learn in school and how it applies to real-world situations. Project-based learning also helps improve creativity, collaboration skills, and teamwork, which are all vital in modern workplaces today.
