Some thoughts about creativity in education ......
by Marvin Bartel, Professor or Art
1. Please note that creativity is
not the same as intelligence.
Research does show that highly creative people who are successful also have average or better intelligence. However, with an I.Q. of 120 or higher, success correlates more with their creativity than with their intelligence. Most creativity research centers on the personality traits of successful highly creative individuals. Personality and attitude are more important than native ability (talent). This implies that we can do lots of things to foster our own creativity if we know what sort of mind sets, attitudes, and dispositions are requisites of creativity. 2. Creativity is NOT just about artists. It is about becoming empowered persons. I may be an artist, but I see an important roles for creative thinking in every area of my life. I believe that math and every subject can be taught creatively. Children are challenged to think creatively in math when a teacher asks for at least two ways to solve problems. Children who can invent a second way to solve a math problem are learning how to think beyond rote learning. They become mathematically empowered. I believe that if we can become more creative ourselves, it can help us be better teachers, better parents, and better peacemakers. We become empowered to make the world a better place. I believe that the study of creativity should be an essential content area in every child's general education. Not only should we encourage children to be more creative, we should help them learn exactly how highly successful creative people are different, are special, and how they help us all when overcome their own difficulties in order to solve problems for all of us. Gordon Parks , an African American photographer, film maker, author, and musician, is a contemporary heros who has recognized the value of his own difficulties and used his creativity to help all us better understand our roles in racism. Beginning in grade three children can certainly learn about the virtues of humor, of silliness, of unique answers, of skeptical thinking, of problem identification, and so on. A good classroom environment needs to be a place to understand and work with the problems of creative personalities while encouraging creativity instead of squelching it. They can learn how group activities and collaboration can solve problems that that can stump individuals. Heroes of creativity can be found in every subject area. The study of these people, their childhood, their contributions, and their ideas should be included at the end of creative classroom activities in every subject we teach. --mb, 3-22-2000 All rights reserved. Other than the quotations and links, the text and photos on this web page are © Marvin Bartel - 2000. You are invited to make a link from your page. You may use properly acknowledged quotations in scholarly review or publication. Goshen College students may make a copy for their own use. If you wish to publish parts or all of this page, you are invited seek permission by e-mail.
Thanks for your visit. E-mail:
marvinpb@goshen.edu
Click on these links for more information about Gordon Parks' creativity. Phil Ponce examines the life and art of Gordon Parks , Life photographer, film director, composer and digital art pioneer. Parks' work, now on exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington D.C., will travel around the U.S. for the next four years. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june98/gordon_1-6.htm l
The Films
& Photography of GORDON PARKS Sr.
A page of links to African-Amercain contributors posted by Donegal Middle School including Gordon Parks and many others Click the links below for more ideas about your child and her/his art.
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