What I expected to see the students do was create things with the circles: baseballs, emoji, snowmen, clocks, spirals, etc. That's what the adults in the Curriculum Committee did several years ago when we were challenged by two students. A few (maybe 3) students did this. The rest literally FILLED IN the circles--they shaded them, scribbled in them, and colored them so the circles were no longer empty.
My goal had been to give as little instruction as possible to see what the students would do with the circles. But after I saw what so many of them did, I wished I had given a different instruction. I wish I had said, "Do something with/in these circles." Then maybe they would have tapped into their creativity more readily and gone beyond the literal filling in of the circles.
On the other hand, the prompt I used did reveal the sad reality that our oldest students (and some of our brightest) have forgotten how to be creative. They have lost their courage to create, and instead they wait for specific instructions and a list of requirements.
This was further reinforced by the next activity we did. I gave each student a STACK of sticky notes (I mean at least 10 per person) and a Sharpie and asked them to complete this sentence: Entrepreneurship is... I encouraged them to write multiple responses and then post them on the board. Most students wrote ONE response and posted it. I looked around the room, gathered myself, and provided a bit more direction. "Ok, now push yourself to add another--think creatively--try a metaphor, a name, a color..." Dutifully, each student filled out one more Post-it and added it to the board. A few (remember that handful from earlier?) added more than one additional note. Why, given a stack of sticky notes and positive encouragement from me, were they content to add only two ideas to the board? First day of school sluggishness? Nerves? Maybe. But more likely a lack of creative thinking.
So, while my class is entitled "Small Business Startup," it could really be called "Creativity Startup." I'll be on a quest to help my students rediscover their creative potential. And I'm glad to do it, although I wish I didn't have to. I know our students are passionate creators as children--from junior kindergartners up through middle schoolers, their creativity is on display each day at school. Where does it go by the time the are seniors?
I know I'm not alone in this work--what are you doing to reignite your students' creativity this year? And what can we all do to prevent the systematic undermining of creativity in schools?
Je pense que c'est un manque de connaissance et d'expérience. C'est comme vouloir improviser en jazz. Il faut bâtir tranquillement sur les découvertes que l'on fait. Je suis certain que la deuxième fois, cet exersice sera meilleur. Et le troisième, le quatrième. I think it's a lack of knowledge and experience. It's like trying to improvise in jazz. We have to build slowly on the discoveries that we made. I am certain that the second time this exersice will be better. And the third, the fourth.
ReplyDeleteRight--but I would hope they'd be practicing creativity right up until graduation! I'll keep at in in my own room.
DeleteSeniors in high school have spent the prior ten years of their lives listening to directions about filling in circles. They have filled in circles on high-stakes nationally- and state-mandated tests, on quarterly benchmarks to make sure they're ready for the standardized tests, and on practice tests to prepare for the benchmarks. In many cases, that's 14-16 tests per year, and they all have the same directions - "fill in the bubble,". If you've spent 60% of your life "filling in" circles for standardized tests, you know that creativity is not only not encouraged, it's actively discouraged. If you don't "fill in" the circle exactly the right way, even a correct answer is counted wrong. Your students did exactly what our data-driven educational system has taught them to do. They followed the explicit directions. They've learned that reading intention into the directions is the easiest way to get something wrong. And on a standardized test, creativity is wrong most of the time.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteSo hear you! We have gone back to the basic and creativity starts right from teachers! For our Professional Development this year, I got staff to 'play'! Kept lots of 'loose parts' and tech toys, to experiment and pay! No results needed. It was fun and has seen a spark across the school! Blog post under construction. Will share the link when ready!
ReplyDeleteGreat! I look forward to it. I did something similar at our post-planning last year and those that engaged loved it!
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