creativity to do

Teaching creativityTeaching creativity

Pupils cannot be taught to be creativePupils cannot be taught to be creativeany more than seedsany more than seeds

can be taught to grow.can be taught to grow.

However, we can prepare the optimum However, we can prepare the optimum environment for seeds to grow: environment for seeds to grow:

likewise we can create the optimum likewise we can create the optimum environment for creativity to flourish.environment for creativity to flourish.


Creativity is no excuseCreativity is no excusefor woolly thinking.for woolly thinking.

Providing children with the best Providing children with the best environment for creativityenvironment for creativitydoes not mean giving themdoes not mean giving them

absolute freedomabsolute freedomwithout rules or guidance.without rules or guidance.


Why encourage creativity?Why encourage creativity? The opposite of creativity is The opposite of creativity is

repression.repression. Thoughts are only oursThoughts are only ours

when we have thought them when we have thought them ourselves.ourselves.

Creativity makes money.Creativity makes money.

Teaching creativity: nine Teaching creativity: nine questionsquestions

How can I checkHow can I checkthat a crown has been made of pure that a crown has been made of pure

gold?gold?

Why do apples fall?Why do apples fall?


How did Zeno’s frog jump all How did Zeno’s frog jump all the way to the edge of the the way to the edge of the

pool?pool?

Why is it so hard to cook Why is it so hard to cook potatoes at the South Pole?potatoes at the South Pole?


Why do cars getWhy do cars getsuch muddy behinds?such muddy behinds?

Why do we see neither the earliest Why do we see neither the earliest sunrise nor the latest sunset on sunrise nor the latest sunset on

the longest day?the longest day?


Which piece of equipment in your Which piece of equipment in your lounge collects the most dust? lounge collects the most dust?

Why does Pernod become cloudy Why does Pernod become cloudy when you add a drop of water?when you add a drop of water?


What does the habit of laying flowersWhat does the habit of laying flowersat the site of road accidentsat the site of road accidents

tell us about contemporary beliefs?tell us about contemporary beliefs?

Graham Wallas:Graham Wallas:the four elementsthe four elements

PreparationPreparation

IncubationIncubation

IlluminationIllumination

VerificationVerification


The story of BrunelleschiThe story of Brunelleschiand the Florence Dome.and the Florence Dome.

““Although Brunelleschi solved the Although Brunelleschi solved the mechanics of his problem by mechanics of his problem by

examining the classical architecture examining the classical architecture of Rome - on a visit with Donatello - of Rome - on a visit with Donatello - his design represented the height of his design represented the height of

Gothic architecture.”Gothic architecture.”


PREPARATIONPREPARATION

The model of GCSE/ A-level Art.The model of GCSE/ A-level Art. Preparation is important: it should Preparation is important: it should

become part of the final piece, and become part of the final piece, and not seen as something to be not seen as something to be

ashamed of.ashamed of. The “back of the book” mentality.The “back of the book” mentality.



A new kind of exam paperA new kind of exam paperfor more creative coursework?for more creative coursework?

Examples from art and EnglishExamples from art and English



ENGLISH Original Writing Coursework: Writing to explore, imagine and entertain

Time allowed: a maximum of 3 hours. Preparatory period: 4 weeks

You have a four week preparatory period. During this time, all your homework time will be devoted to researching, investigating and developing your ideas. Your work during this period could take many forms: reading, note-making, sketching, planning, scrapbook-making.



W S Graham, the poet, prepared carefully in W S Graham, the poet, prepared carefully in order to harness inspiration:order to harness inspiration:

““Pinned to the wall [of his cottage at Pinned to the wall [of his cottage at Gurnard’s Head] or stuck down on old Gurnard’s Head] or stuck down on old sheets of cardboard there were drafts of sheets of cardboard there were drafts of the current poem, or fragments that the current poem, or fragments that might turn into something.”might turn into something.”



Every novel relies on other novelsEvery novel relies on other novelsto give it meaning.to give it meaning.

In order to understand Hindemith,In order to understand Hindemith,you probably needyou probably need

to have understood Mozart.to have understood Mozart. In order to understand Matisse,In order to understand Matisse,

you probably need to know you probably need to know something about Picasso.something about Picasso.



Tasks must be clearly defined.Tasks must be clearly defined. Models must be honestly shared.Models must be honestly shared.

Why do we not habitually begin our Why do we not habitually begin our coursework teaching coursework teaching

by showing pupils what a good piece by showing pupils what a good piece of coursework actually looks like?of coursework actually looks like?

Is it a secret?Is it a secret?


INCUBATIONINCUBATION

The decline of the essay:The decline of the essay:why do sixth-formers refuse to mull?why do sixth-formers refuse to mull?

What do we doWhat do we dowhen we’re doing nothing? when we’re doing nothing?

(We shall have to return to that.)(We shall have to return to that.)


ILLUMINATIONILLUMINATION

Analysts of the creative process Analysts of the creative process recognise that here, recognise that here,

in the moment of illumination, in the moment of illumination, is a collision is a collision

between lateral or associative between lateral or associative thinking and logical or convergent thinking and logical or convergent

thinking.thinking.



This is the hard bit.This is the hard bit.

Illumination is the moment of Illumination is the moment of germination. germination.

Practice makes perfect.Practice makes perfect.


VERIFICATIONVERIFICATION

Time scale: Time scale: so many weeks of preparation, so many weeks of preparation,

so many hours of execution.so many hours of execution.

Craft.Craft.



When we ask ourselves,When we ask ourselves,“How can we learn this craft?” “How can we learn this craft?”

we realise that learning we realise that learning craftcraft is the is the activity which will fill our “incubation” activity which will fill our “incubation”

period.period.

Verification also involvesVerification also involvesreader/ audience/ testing.reader/ audience/ testing.


Wallas’s four stepsWallas’s four steps


INCUBATIONINCUBATION



The KS3 StrategyThe KS3 Strategy

RECALLRECALL

MODELMODEL

TRYTRY

APPLY/ SECUREAPPLY/ SECURE

creativity to do

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