For those who follow me on Twitter, you will not be surprised to see me dedicate this post to Sir Ken Robinson, who is one of my heroes. I figure it is less painful, expensive, and borderline obsessive than getting the Ken Robinson tattoo I have been contemplating. Although, I haven’t totally ruled it out yet.
Robinson is one of the leading authorities on creativity and innovation, and is passionate about education reform. His latest book, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, is a great read. He has written numerous articles and books, and his capacity for divergent thinking is perhaps only surpassed by his ability to inspire it in others. Now THAT my friends, is an educator!
The notion of creativity has come up several times since I started this blog two short weeks ago — either in the writings themselves, or in the thoughtful comments of TGSG readers. It is a theme that cannot be separated from discussions on play, education, and learning. Frankly, it should be an underlying theme in whatever topics are being discussed — economics, health care, or sustainability. Regardless of what the issue or problem, creativity is key to thoroughly engaging people in the process of understanding and discussing it, as well as bringing about the most effective solutions.
In yesterday’s post on kindergarten we talked about how that, in spite of the call for creativity as the future of our workforce, the current education system is designed to limit creativity, and has sadly put the once-untouched Kindergarten classroom in peril. Now, it is a secret to nobody that the United States in in desperate need of K-12 education reform. No Child Left Behind, while well-intentioned, has left an already-cumbersome and flawed system basically on life support. Schools are failing, teachers are over-burdened and bogged down with paperwork, children are learning to take tests, but what they are retaining, including their love of learning and their ability to actually apply that knowledge, is in question.
As the new administration looks at education reform, I sincerely hope that they do so with creative minds and divergent thinking. I hope that they realize that this is not a race. That the testing madness that is the current model is not the answer, and that raising the bar without changing the methodologies will get them nowhere. I hope that they recognize that the way children are educated in the early years has a lasting affect, and that every child is creative and special and has something to offer society. If we help them love to learn and nurture their inherent abilities now, that every aspect of society will be better off in the future, including the much sought after STEM Race (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
Sir Ken Robinson calls for education reform to take place at three levels: Curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy — and for all three to be rooted in creativity. I couldn’t agree with him more.
Below is the TED speech given by Robinson on the topic of education and creativity. Regardless of your interest area, I think you will benefit from spending some time in the creative world of Sir Ken Robinson. Even if you have heard him speak before, it is always a treat. He is as charming and funny as he is intelligent and thought-provoking. I hope that Education Secretary Arne Duncan and friends are taking notes. Just sayin’.
So, enjoy a little screen-time and then go outside and play.
See ya outside! – The Grass Stain Guru
Creativity is a problem. A UCLA study shows that excessive screen-time diminishes our creativity and ability to be creative. Yet more screens are in schools and at home.
I disagree with one thing you said, that this is not a race. If you have children in school now, it is indeed a race, since no one really wants their child to be the one left behind.
We have reached a stage when tossing the baby out with the bathwater might be the only solution. Retraining teachers and teaching new teachers differently is vital, but who is there to teach them?
All of our governmental offices are held by people who have a vested interest in making things better, while keeping them the same. Most of these people in government came from the very industries they are overseeing, then, upon leaving government, they expect to return to those fields…a real conflict.
We need outsiders to turn things upside down and then find and create new careers when they are finished…we need a real transformation that comes from the bottom up and the top down, meeting in the middle.
The only thing that is certain is that things need to change and change will come one way or another…it would be nice to be part of it, rather than its victim.
Excellent post! He is a genius and I thank you for bringing him to my attn. To be honest, I have almost zero hope that No Child Left Behind will be fixed. You have no idea how sad that makes me to say that, but it’s true.
Danica, you are only half right…if we all do our share many young people, and not so young people, will find their way. If we do nothing, our education system will collapse as our economic system just did and then we will be forced to make the changes that are needed. Let us all hope that we can do things now and not have to clean up a total disaster later
Creativity: Or What Kids Have Before We Teach It Out of Them: http://bit.ly/2MH1 (vi@balmeras)
i came across the TED video a few weeks ago and think sir ken is pretty amazing. as a person who was told over and over again that a creative endeavor wasn’t worthy enough of a career, his talk struck a pretty big chord with me. thanks for sharing your thoughts on it!
Great post – my wife is a teacher and always talks about this kind of stuff. Parents sure do a number on their kids sometimes! I hope No Child Left Behind gets put on the shelf as yet another example of how NOT to help kids.
Bravo! Nice work. As an educator and former learning researcher I can tell you that creativity is undervalued, overlooked and altogether missing from public education schooling and our societal paradigm. Even though some psychologists believe that creativity is the true measure of intelligence! Maybe Bethe can get a creativity movement going!
For creativity and innovation RT @balmeras http://tinyurl.com/djov9m
Wow, Bethe. He is really something! Thank you so much for sharing this. I have one young one left in school…it makes me wonder what I can do for her, not to mention my sugar baby.
Great stuff!
In case the “night shift” missed 2day’s post on creativity & education: http://bit.ly/2MH1 Viva Sir Ken Robinson! Just sayin. (again)
For creativity and innovation RT @balmeras http://tinyurl.com/djov9m
In case the “night shift” missed 2day’s post on creativity & education: http://bit.ly/2MH1 Viva Sir Ken Robinson! Just sayin. (again)
Thanks! RT @balmeras @AmyStark Hi Amy! @1080group said UR a Ken Robinson fan. Thought you might enjoy this post: http://bit.ly/2MH1
Thanks @balmeras for this blog, and a FANTASTIC video at the end. Educational and bloody funny guy! http://bit.ly/QGtCc
After seeing the picture of Ken Robinson on the video screenshot something ahs finally clicked into place.
Monday and Tuesday mornings I work in a Liverpool dance college (http://www.mddcdance.co.uk). A few weeks ago a very nice man came in – he had been to visit a friend in apartments next to the college. He said he had heard of MDDC and was impressed by what they did. I was out on errands when he visited but he left a card, which was passed to me for future contact. He was Sir Ken Robinson!
I looked him up briefly but over the past 10 weeks work has been truly bonkers (14 hour days, 7 days a week) and I haven’t had a chance to get in contact with Sir Ken to thank him on behalf of MDDC.
Now I understand things a little better I will be sure to follow up and contact Sir Ken very soon.
Thanks Bethe for opening my eyes, again!
Thanks! RT @balmeras @AmyStark Hi Amy! @1080group said UR a Ken Robinson fan. Thought you might enjoy this post: http://bit.ly/2MH1
Fabulous post on the need for creativity in raising children, from @balmeras – http://twurl.nl/sjudvj
Education reform rooted in creative. RT @GlobalPatriot: Fab post on need 4 creativity in raising children @balmeras http://twurl.nl/sjudvj
RT @amoyal RT @Gennefer RT @GlobalPatriot Fabulous post on the need for creativity in raising children from @balmeras http://twurl.nl/sjudvj
It is sad whenever learning facts gets in the way of exploring creativity, as we must all remember that every ‘discovery’ made using logic and reason has, at its base, the power of creativity which allows the human mind to imagine that which is not yet known.
Thanks @balmeras for this blog, and a FANTASTIC video at the end. Educational and bloody funny guy! http://bit.ly/QGtCc
Fabulous post on the need for creativity in raising children, from @balmeras – http://twurl.nl/sjudvj
Education reform rooted in creative. RT @GlobalPatriot: Fab post on need 4 creativity in raising children @balmeras http://twurl.nl/sjudvj
RT @amoyal RT @Gennefer RT @GlobalPatriot Fabulous post on the need for creativity in raising children from @balmeras http://twurl.nl/sjudvj
@GlobalPatriot <–RT: Fabulous post on the need 4 creativity in raising children, from @balmeras – http://twurl.nl/sjudvj #teachurkidswell
@GlobalPatriot <–RT: Fabulous post on the need 4 creativity in raising children, from @balmeras – http://twurl.nl/sjudvj #teachurkidswell
I agree on creativity a whole lot, and even more on No Child Left Behind. End all tests are not the way to judge a teacher’s educational ability. It doesn’t take into account significant variables like socioeconomic status and previous educational background of students. It treats every year like a blank slate which is a huge hole in the system. While I think education is hugely important at a younger age like kindergarten, I think it is more important to find creative teaching techniques in older children like 5th and on becuz the attention span and lack of respect for authority grows so it is important to find ways to teach these kids creative ways to gain knowledge. And thanks for the video of ken robinson, very interesting guy.
@GlobalPatriot <–RT: Fabulous post on the need 4 creativity in raising children, from @balmeras – http://twurl.nl/sjudvj #teachurkidswell
@GlobalPatriot <–RT: Fabulous post on the need 4 creativity in raising children, from @balmeras – http://twurl.nl/sjudvj #teachurkidswell
Very inspiring video clip, I am currently writing my M.A. dissertation titled “Creativity or Chaos in the Primary Classroom; A case study of two Creative Partnership Scenarios.” Sir Ken is a man after my own heart but the fear of failure in academic outcome for children is huge for the teacher involved and leaves a legacy for those after them. I agree academic achievement has priority but without the abolition of testing and league tables little will change!
@FunkySteph @VincentHunt. Concur! I wrote about the same topic last spring http://bit.ly/ohAoA. @SirKenRobinson is on twitter, too!
@FunkySteph @VincentHunt. Concur! I wrote about the same topic last spring http://bit.ly/ohAoA. @SirKenRobinson is on twitter, too!
oh WOW! Something struck a cord and suddenly it all rings harmoniously! I spent my day being creative with my 4 and 5 year old students . . following their footsteps and basically began, continued and ended the day spontaneously as they provided ideas on just what we were going to learn together today in Science, Maths, Language , Art and Drama. Put what I had pre-planned to the side. Luckily, I have the trust, and expectation, of my school administrators to work this way. Now, ending my day with this blog and Sir Robinson’s videos on Creativity. AMAZING and exciting!