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Creative Teaching

The specific ways an educator engages creative learning in the classroom are varied and multidimensional in nature. The educational dialogue regarding creativity often focuses more on the degree to which creativity is important to education and less on defining the specifics of creative teaching. In its simplest form, creative teaching can be defined as the act of teaching in a new and useful way. It can also include teaching creativity as the content of the learning. Teaching creatively and teaching creativity are the focus of this entry.

Words like exceptional, unique, and even creative might be used to describe a master educator. The expertise, skills, and abilities that are described as successful attributes of an extraordinary teacher varies. The learner's needs, the focus of the educational system, and cultural norms all come into play. Certain attributes such as superior communication skills, content expertise, and grasp of pedagogy would universally be considered important for successful instruction. There is less agreement with regard to the essential strategies of instruction, the selection of the content, and to what degree creative teaching is a necessity.

Creativity and the Act of Teaching

Teaching can be described as a creative act. The problem-solving strategies used to reach learners include assessing the needs, monitoring progress, adapting, communicating, and delivering the content to meet the learners' needs. Although it is essential for a teacher to learn and to apply successful strategies consistently, the delivery varies according to the needs of the learners. Teachers who have mastered their discipline stay current in the field and continue to learn and utilize new ways of teaching to improve instruction. Helping students excel requires that teachers not only assist with knowledge acquisition but provide an environment that challenges students to master complex learning, engage in new thinking, and produce original thoughts and outcomes. These are some of the dimensions that describe the act of creative teaching.

Beyond Originality

A misconception regarding creativity is that it involves only originality. Originality in the delivery of a lesson is not sufficient. If the resulting outcome is not useful, the delivery of the learning lacks creativity. In teaching creatively, the delivery has a degree of originality, results in meeting the learning goals and, at its highest form, is elegant in form and content. To nurture creativity in students, delivering a lesson in a more creative way is only the beginning. Teachers who consistently teach in a more creative manner work hard to consider all aspects of creative learning. Creative teaching results in cognitive and affective growth in students, including the skills and attitude to continue to acquire, utilize, and formulate new knowledge in the future.

Considering the Development of Everyday and Eminent Creativity

Creative learning in a discipline or area of talent can result in each person living his or her life each day in a more creative way. At the highest levels of creative productivity, it may result in eminent creative performance through new thinking and acting that influences a society. Creative teaching assists the learner to strive for a high level of positive daily functioning and the development of high levels of performance.

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