Teaching creativity

[xoxoxoBruce]

OK, so it is the expanded scope of possibilities then, either by personal broader experience/knowledge or by collaboration.

Hey, isn't there something about art by committee?

[Lamplighter]

Actually, the St Johns bridge was built as it is because it was lighter
and therefore less expensive than the older Sellwood type.
It's construction was completed early and under budget.
But it's artistic beauty was not requisite for a suspension bridge design

While some students entering 4-year colleges may be there for some sort of job training kind of experience,
I think you see such attitude and experience more at the community college level where costs are lower
and the age of the students tend to be older.
Many students at community colleges are already working...
at jobs they either don't like or they are specifically in need of job training,
OR they are students taking college credit courses for financial reasons (e.g., still live at home).

[Lamplighter]

Occasionally even TheCellar is more fun when philosophy and art are in a Dwellar's toolbox... link

[warch]

Ok, this is up my alley. I teach visual art, and recognize the unique sort of knowing that happens with hands on creative studio practices. That said, creativity isnt just part of arts education (although, in schooling it is most often where its able to exist) Creative thinking should be supported, invited, encourages across and through all primary education. thinking such as metaphor making, perspective shifting, question finding or raising, and good old reasoning are practiced in creative arts, science, design practices. And those are the practices that make up 21st c life...at least a participating, functioning, agentic life...which is what I would hope for all kids.

But back to the art programs in K-12...for some kids art is the critical link that allows, invites and motivates them to find meaning in their schooling. Along with art studio practices are moments of expression and if lucky, a pivotal moment of , for lack of any other way to describe it, an aesthetic experience of possibility, value, validity, future. The payoff for both teacher and students.

There is much focus on art studio habits of mind: looking at the processes of art learning, rather than sole focus on products. Naming these maps them out but when rolling, they're fluid and spiraling rather than linear.

develop craft-- engage & persist--envision---express--- observe--reflect--stretch & explore-- connect with art worlds.

So support arts in schools=== quality teachers are more important than snazzy gear. And visiting artist and field trips are not enough to cover for the elimination of a comprehensive arts program. Visual arts and language arts have never been closer in content, processes and in real world creative literacy application. I think that's pretty cool.

[classicman]

[monster]

Can you teach creativity? Or can you just provide an environment in which it is encouraged/allowed to develop/nurtured?

They get plenty of art instruction time at my kids' school, but it seems to me to be far less creative than many of their other subjects. "Draw this" "use this technique" "learn the complementary colors on the wheel", :Learn the fact about the life of Van Gogh" Even in the higher grades where it's an elective.

And I'd've been really mad if I was forced to take art at uni. an option, great, but mandatory? No. Of course in the UK, students specialize much earlier. it didn't even used to be mandatory past 9th grade.

[ZenGum]

Funny, while all this discussion of theories of teaching and learning is taking place, I'm either attending a uni staff training course where I have to reflect on my personal philosophy of teaching or developing the curriculum for a topic in philosophy of Education.

I don't want to come over all professional expert on this stuff because the discussion is really good as it is. In fact, maybe Imma cite youse guys.

[footfootfoot]

Our infrastructure is not falling apart because kids make macaroni collages in grade school. Our infrastructure is falling apart because of MBAs.

[Lamplighter]

Amen !

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Do we say spineless politicians? or stupid voters?

Both.

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Our infrastructure is not falling apart because kids make macaroni collages in grade school. Our infrastructure is falling apart because of MBAs.

Yes, and lawyers.

[Juniper]

Regarding the post about Craigslist ads ---

The same could be said for (ahem) writers.

There are endless ads on Craigslist and other job sites asking writers to do stuff for free, and for piddly, insulting rates that might as well be free.

Granted, sometimes all they want are words on a page, not quality words. But I am SICK of talking to people who think they can hire a skilled copywriter for $15/hour. Yes, they can hire a copywriter for that rate, or even less and they might not be educated enough themselves to know the difference between the output of, say, ME, and some guy in India.

Fortunately there are plenty of folks out there who don't mind paying for the real thing, but it's frustrating to wade through the crap just to find them. If you let it, it can lead to second-guessing yourself and wondering if you're right about your own value.

Which is kinda where I am now. I'm better than I've ever been, but having more trouble than I ever have.

[xoxoxoBruce]

It's the economy, and bastards trying to take advantage of the it's-the-economy-mindset, Juniper, not you.

You're good enough, you're smart enough, and doggone it, people Like you!

[warch]

regarding the question of if creativity is "teachable"...our idea of teaching can be limiting, through our own experience of schooling through direct instruction/demo-- and that is an effective strategy for some things-- how to thread a sewing machine, how to add and subtract, etc.
I am a big fan of making stuff. Good teaching also includes creating or designing opportunities for creative experience- think lab or studio, or challenging play. I think it is helpful to make the examples of creative work visible and to instill reflection/critique as part of the process. I think that's how creativity is fostered, demonstrated, risked, learned. Its hard to assess, can sometime be very educational yet product-wise seem a horrible failure, doesn't fit basic skills models of teaching. For many this is the meaningful life stuff that engages them, pushes them outside of school and work. Too bad they can't merge a bit more.

[warch]

Daniel Pink is the dude that's often charged with saying that the MFA is the new MBA...not sure I necessarily like what all that implies...but its interesting.
This is a great piece about creative motivation, creatively delivered. hope the linkie works

[Juniper]

That video is SO cool. Really inspiring. I've heard about Daniel Pink but never really looked into his stuff, now I'm going to have to do that.

About the MFA, though -- I'm reading a book now called The Portable MFA and the author says that basically if you do the MFA (as a writer, anyhow) you're worse off than you'd be without it because you end up with nothing of value plus $50K in debt. Want to improve your creative performance? Read and write. A lot. I can groove to that.

I'm going to get an M.A. anyway. Screw the F part.