Nurturing creativity inside the classroom.
4 tips to cultivate critical thinking and innovation for students.
Creativity is foundational for harnessing innovation, finding solutions to problems and becoming more adaptable to diverse situations.
Through creativity, one becomes capable of thinking outside of the box which leads to personal growth and professional development.
Albert Einstein, one of the renowned physicists of the millennium once said,
"Creativity is intelligence having fun."
The landscape of education has been quite dynamic in the pages of history. And creativity lies in the centre of the learning realm.
From different modes of teaching such as online education, lectures and experiential learning to assessment methods including exams and project-based assessments the sector has recorded a rapid evolution.
On the other side, creativity not only nurtures critical thinking and innovation but also cultivates a mindset which equips learners to overcome barriers inside and outside the learning environment.
The following are the key 4 tips I have always cherished in becoming a creative learner on and off the field.
1. Perceiving failure as an opportunity to learn
Everyone on the face of the Earth has tasted failure at least once in a lifetime.
However, only those who have perceived failure as an opportunity to meet their destiny have been able to triumph after a series of losses.
You need to take failure as a means to learn something new while unafraid of failure. The more opportunities you seize the more creative you become.
2. Embracing cross-disciplinary learning
Channelling information from different origins is rare among learners.
Cross-disciplinary learning can boost knowledge, discover new experiences and apply them for life-long learning.
As you learn, you can also teach others which can positively boost your experiences and knowledge. New approaches improve decision-making and boost creativity.
3. Flexible learning pathways
Experimenting with different learning pathways is vital.
A person can be an efficient learner using books and other readable formats while others may prefer a visual mode of learning or some may like to acquire education through auditory means.
But, the more you juggle with learning pathways the more you understand what is suitable for you and what's not. Thus, becoming creative in your role.
4. Global community engagement and partnership
There are around 235 million learners around the world.
Everyone has their own experience inside and outside the classroom. Exchanging experiences and partnering with such a global community will enrich your problem-solving knowledge.
Coursera and LinkedIn are platforms that you must consider to engage with others in your domain. These platforms also offer courses that can enhance your skills and unleash the creativity inside you.
Conclusion
To summarise I would say that creativity is extremely essential and there’s a plethora of reasons why you need to nurture it if you are a learner.
The mentioned tips have been tried and tested by not just me but learners globally who have championed the skill of creativity.
