Being creative doesn’t seem to fit with school and business today. As I was thinking what I was going to write about being anti-creative, Bonnie Bracey- Sutton just shared this video on Facebook about the Anti-Creative Checklist.
My Anti-Creativity Checklist from Youngme Moon on Vimeo.
If you are the creative type, you will get this. If not, you may be scratching your head wondering what’s all the fuss about. Probably will seem very normal for you. Kids today are wired different and their brains work creatively. They grew up with technology that encourages this type of thinking.
Being ant-creative is how my generation was raised. (I’m a grandma so that gives you an idea that I’m older than you think). People of my generation were told to keep our hands on the desk, only raise our hand when we knew the one right answer, and be quiet. Actually, this sounds like lots of classrooms today. Ugh!
A creative classroom is like controlled chaos — there’s alot of noise or buzz happening. Watching a classroom where students are finding problems, trying to figure out some solutions, and sharing, brainstorming, and getting excited about learning is mind blowing. After you teach in an environment where students are engaged and motivated to learn, it is too difficult to go back to traditional lecture mode. Same with people like myself who are entrepreneurs and designed their own product or service. It’s hard to work for someone else who doesn’t think like you. So here I am writing about creativity and anti-creativity. I vote for being curious, creative and innovate. How about you?
Barbara,
I vote for curiousity.
You have written a thoughtful post that hit quite a few points that I often ponder as an elementary teacher. I love the phrase “controlled chaos” which does define a creative environment pretty well. To an average onlooker walking by such a classroom, it may seem unorganized and loud and disruptive but a closer look would reveal just the opposite.
I have worked very hard to create such learning environment where kids are comfortable at making mistakes, asking questions, working collaboratively and it has forced me into many paradigm shifts. I think as teachers we are very much about control ~ it’s our genetic makeup and letting students be creative means that we as teachers need to “let go” of some control.
I am getting better at letting go, because I have seen the spark in the students eye’s, I have seen the excitement it brings to students and I would much rather engage than enrage. So, I vote for curiousity.
John
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