WHY WE MUST PRIORITIZE
CREATIVITY IN EDUCATION

In certain contexts, creative people get a bad reputation, especially in education. They are the flighty people who live in the clouds, are super into the arts, and can’t concentrate on the “real” responsibilities in front of them. In the past, “creative souls” have been excused as not good with numbers or science or structure.

But that is actually the furthest thing from the truth! In fact, all aspects of education need creativity more than we can even imagine. Creative thinking in education expands young minds by taking them out of their comfort zones, from writing stories to even the most rigid mathematical processes.

If students are taught from the beginning to think independently to find new solutions in school, then they will know the value of creativity, and through creativity in education, get comfortable with it and feel empowered to use it in their lives outside of school.

Thankfully, the world realizes the value of creativity in education, and there are major pushes in many countries to prioritize creative thinking for education. Let’s see exactly what that looks like and what the benefits of creativity are.

What is Creativity?

Before we look at the benefits, let’s see exactly what creativity is and get away from the “woowoo” perception of creative people discussed earlier.

In their report, the Durham Commission on Creativity defined creativity as “the capacity to imagine, conceive, express, or make something that was not there before.” Simply, creativity in education is to create an environment where students feel free to exercise their brains to come up with a variety of new things.

Building on that, the same report also differentiates between creativity and “creative thinking” in which creativity is achieved by using knowledge, skills, and critical thinking to make something new. It is this creative thinking for education that is the most important skill because students learn to apply abstract creativity onto certain challenges to find new solutions, expand their knowledge, and stimulate their curiosity.

Keep Up With the Rapidly Changing World

The number one reason most countries recognize the benefits of creativity is that the world is changing faster than it ever has. Because of new developments in technology and AI, we need to evolve our education system, and fast before it gets left behind.

Creative thinking for education pushes children to think on their feet and be open to finding new solutions. The value of creativity shows through here because, realistically, once children get through their education and into the insanely fast moving “real world,” most jobs, technologies, and processes will be outdated and they will be the ones to invent and create the new ones.

The value of creativity and innovation in the world has never been higher, making it essential for everyone to have the skills to think creatively. Starting with fostering creativity in education gives children early access to thinking this way, making it the default as they grow older.

Creativity in Education to Get Children Excited

To get the full benefits of education, children need to get excited not only about what they’re learning, but about learning in general, and creativity in education is the best way to jolt them with excitement. Once they realize the benefits of creativity and that challenging themselves creatively is super fun, they will have the confidence to use it in their everyday lives and their communities.

While we are talking about global problem solving, sometimes, creativity in education is just about inventing a new world to play in together and letting loose. The educationally rigid community needs to equally understand that getting connected to play stimulates intellect in a different way that leads to excitement about new solutions.

Another of the benefits of creativity through excitement and play is a connection to community and teamwork. If children are comfortable letting loose and also working with their peers in the safe space of the classroom, then they can access their creativity more easily and grow with it. The value of creativity is that it causes an electric excitement in everyone!

Global Initiatives on Creativity

We mentioned earlier that creativity in education is a global concern that many countries are prioritizing which is such a relief! With these initiatives in place, the world will slowly become the place that recognizes the benefits of creativity across the board.

According to a thorough report done by the Global Institute of Creative Thinking, Australia leads the world in prioritizing creativity in education and creative thinking in all levels of education. They have laid out four aspects and stepping stones of creative thinking in schools:

1. Inquiring

This is where all creativity starts! If children start with inquiring minds, then they will be excited and influenced to explore new subjects and/or dive deeper into aspects of things they don’t fully understand.

2. Generating

Once they’ve identified something they don’t understand or a problem they want to know more about, then the next step of the creative process is to start generating possible actions they can take to find solutions, which can lead to a trial and error process.

3. Analyzing

While analysis might seem like the opposite of creativity, that’s not true! Analyzing the results of what they came up with is one of the major benefits of creativity because it stretches the brain into critical thinking as well. This is where everything comes together.

4. Reflecting

Once everything is over, reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, the journey of the entire process, and the impeccable outcome helps solidify in children’s minds the value of creativity, and they will feel more comfortable with the process after reflecting on it.

While these steps are only laid out by Australia in their creative thinking for education initiatives, with global reports of the benefits of creativity in education becoming more public and commonplace, other countries are learning about and implementing them as well.

Conclusion

Creativity in education is no longer only associated with “woowoo” artsy people who are afraid of math. In our rapidly changing world, the value of creativity is higher than ever since everyone needs the skills to use their brains and imagination to come up with new things that never existed before because the next best thing is always just around the corner.

Students who don’t know how to exercise their creative brains are going to get left behind when the time comes for them to enter the workforce, another reason why creativity in education at all levels is so important. Getting creative also stimulates excitement around problem solving and teamwork, things that our new world desperately needs.

Make sure everyone is ready for the fast paced future and help us prioritize creativity in education! Donate to NARA Education today.

About Author

Ilona Sindhu

Ilona is a writer focused on Old Norse Mythology, drawing from her Hungarian, Pakistani, and Texan roots. She holds a BA in Dramaturgy and Theatre History from NYU, an MS in Religion and Literature from the University of Edinburgh, and is currently working on her PhD. After working in theatre, dance, finance, and academia, her work blends myth, culture, and storytelling across borders.