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Reaching for the Star: A Model for Integrating Creativity in Education

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Creativity Under Duress in Education?

Part of the book series: Creativity Theory and Action in Education ((CTAE,volume 3))

Abstract

The education system is under duress. Key stakeholders constantly pressure educators to both improve test scores and prepare students for an uncertain future. Given these potentially competing demands, it is essential for creativity researchers to provide practical advice for teachers as to how they can build creativity into education. This means giving clear guidance on what educators need to know, what they need to do, and possibly how to do it. This chapter addresses these questions by exploring a Five-Point Star model that offers a path for integrating creative thinking into the curriculum. The first point of the star helps educators understand what creativity is, dispels the myths of creativity, and positions why it is more important now than ever. The second point enables educators to identify their creativity skills and develop their creative thinking abilities. The third point frames the physical and psychological climate for creativity in the classroom. Point four explores how to weave creative thinking skills into any content, by using the Torrance Incubation Model. Finally, point five discusses creativity and problem solving as a course within the curriculum.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SUNY Buffalo State, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Cyndi Burnett & Sara Smith

Authors
  1. Cyndi Burnett
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  2. Sara Smith
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cyndi Burnett .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Blacksburg Campus, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Carol A. Mullen

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

  • Content Goal: To understand the function and parts of a microscope

  • Creativity Skill: Look at it Another Way

  • Heightening Anticipation: When students walk into the room, there are large pictures posted of different animals and items at high magnifications (Look at it Another Way). The students can guess what each picture is before it is revealed. The teacher then brings out microscopes to show the students.

  • Deepening Expectations: The class discusses the different parts of the microscope and what they do. The students practice using the microscope with different magnifications, seeing how the items they are looking at change as they adjust the settings on the microscope (Look at it Another Way). Then, the students write down the role and function of each part of the microscope and draw an item at different levels of magnification. The students wonder about what items in the classroom they can look at differently through the microscope and try it out.

  • Extending the Learning: The teacher brings up the pictures from the start of class. Students try to guess magnification level based on what they have learned. The teacher provides students with mini-magnifying glasses to take home and look at objects around their houses in different ways.

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Burnett, C., Smith, S. (2019). Reaching for the Star: A Model for Integrating Creativity in Education. In: Mullen, C.A. (eds) Creativity Under Duress in Education?. Creativity Theory and Action in Education, vol 3. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90272-2_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90272-2_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-90271-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-90272-2

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