The Creativity Crisis

Seargeant Richardson, Laura
"The Creativity Crisis: Why American Schools Need Design"
The Atlantic
Posted online March 25, 2011
URL:  http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/03/the-creativity-crisis-why-american-schools-need-design/73038/

We have all heard of the STEM approach to education, so maybe it is time to make it STEAM with the "A" being Art.  The author makes a great point and backs it up with research to show students who want to succeed in the new growing job opportunities will not only need to be smart in the STEM areas, but also in be able to be creative.  As she points out, jobs listed in the "New Work" classifications are grouped into 5 categories with STEM appearing to only account for one-fifth of the training needed to compete in the coming decades.  She also points out, "the European Union declared 2009 as the Year of Creativity, and Chinese faculty actually laughed when they found out the U.S. education trends were in "standardized curriculum, rote memorization, and nationalized testing."


This article was written in a national magazine and is not meant for just teachers, but for the general public as well.  Ms. Seargeant Richardson argues (as we have read and discussed in classes) that to just concentrate on the STEM programs and teaching to the test is NOT the way to go.  We are going to shortchange our future students, our industries and our nation if we eliminate the other aspects of eduction such as art, music, shop and design classes.  Part of education is stimulating all parts of the brain and not just certain areas.  Or to put it another way, it is like using one of your arms with just barely using your other arm.  How stupid would that be?!

Panel of Expert Editors

“With More Than Yawns, Pupils Rate Teacher’s Book” by Grace Rubenstein
New York Times, March 10, 2011

Topic: A third grade teacher in the Bay area uses his class as the “front-line editors” of the childrens chapter book he is writing.

Summary: Each time that Mr. Imwalle finishes a chapter in the book he is writing, he reads it allowed to the students in his third grade class. The students provide feedback about what they liked, what they didn’t like, and he can also judge based on their behavior during the read-aloud.

Intended audience: General public

Key Points:

• The students have a rare opportunity to be exposed to the process of writing a book – as opposed to just seeing the final product on the shelves of the library.
• Kids are excited about creative writing activities in class after being a process of the teacher’s own creative writing work.
• Great way to motivate students who don’t like writing – many in the class are ELL. This puts the focus on the enjoyment of writing, not the grammar/spelling/technical part that is difficult for students at this level.

Relevance: This is something we may be able to use as teachers in the future. I don’t see myself writing a book, but as a child I remember having local authors come in for workshops or assemblies to teach about the process of writing books/creative writing. How cool for these students to get to be a process of that through their teacher! I also really liked the way Imwalle empowers the students to be editors for his book – it goes along with Bruner’s idea that students can practice a discipline at some level with integrity – these 8-9 year ARE editors! How lucky that he has a panel of experts at his disposal :)

Creativity in Public Education

Sir Ken Robinson
Do Schools Kill Creativity?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY&feature=player_embedded
3/27/2011
Topic: Creativity in schools

Sir Ken Robinson speaks at the TED (Technology Entertainment and Design) Conference held in California. He makes some interesting points and raises a few good ideas about creativity within the system of public education. Emphasis is placed on the unknown and unpredictable future of the world, and the idea of educating for that unknown future. It is a 20 min video, but it goes by fast and is quite entertaining. Intended Audience: Everyone.

Key Points: There is an inflammation in higher education, the idea of educating for university attendance is changing, multiple intelligences, and questioning the denial of creativity within schools

Relevance: Though this video is from 2006, the ideas he raises are still relevant today. The public education system is designed to prepare students for college, but college is not what it used to be. Getting that degree means nothing now, you need more. It no longer guarantees a job. And the thing that is making everyone distinct, that makes people unique—creativity—is being overlooked in education. We must not overlook creativity—the world is changing and we need to encourage students to produce unique creative ideas.