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Nurturing creativity in the classroom

A creative development agency based in West Yorkshire, IVE, is seeking to prove that creative behaviour can not only be learned, but also taught.

Drew Rowlands, Director of Development at IVE talks about how the company, formerly known as CapeUK, is utilising 20 years’ experience of being at the forefront of research and thinking about creativity and learning to benefit the business community.

They aim to do this by teaching creativity through training and consultancy, nurturing creative talent to inspire young people to achieve and becoming an advocate for creative learning to demonstrate the value of arts and creative learning.

Creativity in the classroom

Drew said: “Creativity can be nurtured by schools, but it can also be suppressed. There is currently a real tension across the system, as teachers are forced to focus on an increasingly narrow approach to learning that is geared towards the number of pupils who achieve in what is, quite frankly, an archaic assessment regime that requires young people to regurgitate knowledge, which is forgotten within weeks.

“This is at a time when we know that employers are crying out for a more holistically skilled workforce, who have the ability to solve problems creatively and who might drive productivity through innovation. The ‘exam factory’ approach to learning reduces a child’s capacity to be imaginative and creative and ultimately leaves them qualified, but not particularly equipped with the skills they need to be successful in a rapidly changing employment market.

“The teaching profession needs to embrace and encourage teaching for creativity in order to prepare our future workforce appropriately.”

**‘Teaching for creativity’ **

“Teaching for creativity is the phrase used to explain the teaching practice needed to foster pupils’ creative learning and develop their creative capacities. “It relates to the relationships, ethos, environment, resources, challenges, planning and structures that are needed to empower students to take a greater lead in their own learning journeys. When delivered effectively, it also leads to pupils making greater progress within the exam culture that currently exists”

Using own creativity in the teaching process

“Teachers’ own creative processes of how to make learning exciting and engaging for the pupils, is referred to as ‘creative teaching’.

“This involves the teacher generating new ideas, making connections and using imagination to create stimulating challenges for pupils. It requires them to answer intriguing questions, find solutions to challenges and real-life problems and make connections with people or places beyond the school gates.”

How pupils learn through creativity

“The phrases ‘creative learning’ and ‘creativity in learning’ refer to how pupils learn through creativity. When applied to real life situations, this kind of learning relies on having a strong ‘bank’ of knowledge and skills, so this is an extremely successful way of developing the whole learning process.”

Creativity in the 21st century

Drew explains: “The ability to be creative is an essential human capacity, contributing to all aspects of our daily lives. It is arguably one of the most important skills for the 21st century if we are to survive and thrive within the complexities of modern society.

“Whilst the term is often associated with the arts where it is an obvious key ingredient, creativity is also an integral element in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as the rest of the curriculum.

“The development of new technology has already impacted business, and will continue to do so increasingly over the coming years, so it is essential that we ensure the workforce of tomorrow are equipped with skills that they can apply to a diverse range of contexts.”

**To find out more about teaching creativity or for more information on how IVE can support your creative needs, contact Drew Rowlands on 0113 322 3050 or drew@weareive.org **

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by IVE .