Putting Creativity at the Heart of Schools: The Medium Is Also the Message
摘要
This chapter explores the need to make the development of creativity a central focus of schools and school systems. It argues for creativity’s and creative thinking’s intentional and systematic inclusion alongside a fundamental reappraisal of the purposes of education in crazy times. Even in areas of the world where creativity does not yet feature, it can be woven into every subject of the curriculum and every facet of school life. However, simply advocating for creativity changes nothing in education systems which have grown adept at resisting things they do not yet understand, and which challenge the status quo. The authors ask how we are progressing in embedding creativity and creative thinking throughout schools, highlighting the challenges of poor understanding and resistance, despite research-informed frameworks and international initiatives. They draw attention to issues with some well-known approaches to change and innovation, before suggesting strategic approaches for systemic and sustainable creativity. In conclusion, they speculate that the same habits which animate creativity and creative thinking in young people may help teachers and leaders to change their practices and are the driving force behind schools which actively seek to become learning organizations.