Sir Ken Robinson spoke at TED on "Do Schools Kill Creativity?" and made the statement, "Creativity is at least as important as literacy." He also said our education system teaches us that one of the worst things we can make is a mistake. Many 21st century thinkers believe the "right" brain needs to be given the same nourishment that we've given the "left" brain for so many years. Watch this short (19 minute), entertaining video and think about how this message applies to us. Share your thoughts by clicking on the comments link below.
18 hours ago
Oh my goodness! What a fantastic presentation. This speaker was so entertaining and so on target with what our schools NEED to be! The part that really struck me was that intelligence is "diverse". Shakespeare was in somebody's class, Gillian Lynne- choreographer of CATS- was thought to have a learning disability because she couldn't sit still. If she was in a class these days, would she be put on medication to sit still? As he so eloquently stated, children have such extraordinary capabilities and we don't need to squander their talents.
ReplyDeleteThis was wonderful...I certainly agree with Sir Ken Robinson. We must celebrate the gift of imagination and educate the whole being. Education must allow for creativity.
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased that you liked Ken Robinson's TED Talk enough to blog on it! It is unthinkable that schools could abandon the opportunity to guide students in developing their creative mind. Can it be that education is so engrossed in TEACHING existing ideas and concepts that we've overlooked opportunities to generate new ideas and associations?
ReplyDeleteThe value of "making, creating, and doing" simply cannot be overstated.
"All children have tremendous talents and we SQUANDER them". I can't express how that thought frightens me. I think that, as teachers, we all have a great to desire to help and thus to produce productive citizens. Could it be that by focusing so greatly on those skills needed in the past industrial age that we could really miss it for the kids we're teaching now? What a scary thought! How do we form the critical mass needed to direct this new a necesary wave in eduation? How does all that line up with the huge call for accountability in educators? This has given me so much to consider.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there's Andy, the little guy I had in 2nd grade as a first year teacher. All he did, all day, every day, was draw helicopters under tables. Is it possible that he's artist now?
What a great speach. I loved it. It is so true -- our kids need creativity in their lives. We need to make sure that we are encouraging that creativity instead of stiffling it.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the speech. What a great way to get the point across.I do feel we need to educate the whole child. We need to help the students be more well rounded. Give them a chance to explore their interest. His speech has made me think about what we are doing and what we can do to improve and allow more creativity. I think BALANCE is the key.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this little piece by Sir Ken Robinson. He was very interesting and made some valid points. I hope that over time we can implement some of his ideas to allow children opportunities to be more creative and express themselves through the arts.
ReplyDeleteVery good speech funny at times! I think, we need to give our students many opportunities to be creative without concern for the product. Maybe when we are helping our students make a specific object, like a puppet or a place mat, we could keep things open-ended and leave room for their own creative touches.
ReplyDeleteI liked how Sir Ken Robinson listed the things schools consider most important like math and language at the top while music and arts were at the bottom. Drama and dance are two important ways to encourage students to use their imagination creatively while letting them move. We can incorporate math and language skills in activities in physical education class too.
ReplyDeleteWow--That was awesome! I believe that he is absolutely right!!!We do need to allow our students to enjoy ALL aspects of education-we even need to allow ourselves as teachers to enjoy all areas as well. Enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteWhat an enjoyable speech! I could truly relate to his comments about Gillian Lynne. What a shame had someone missed this diagnosis! It's a matter of guiding them in the right direction at times.
ReplyDeleteThis was awesome! Yes, I thought he made numerous interesting points. I liked how he stated, "We grow out of creativity...Be prepared to be wrong or you won't come up with anything original...we all have the gift of imagination." Thanks for sharing this with us!
ReplyDeleteI was very impressed with the speech but I am also very impressed that so many of the staff took the time not only to see it but to comment on it. Clearly it affected you in a positive way. You guys are the best.
ReplyDeleteAs Abraham Maslow once stated, "Creativity is a characteristic given to all human beings at birth." As teachers, we will have to decide how to nurture the creative side of each child. Also, Sir Ken Robinson said, "All children have a talent." I personally know that I was not a child that enjoyed math. However, I was a STAR in gym class and my teacher always praised me. As educators we need to help students find their strengths/talents and encourage them to shine in those areas.
ReplyDeleteThis short film has really given me some food for thought. I know in my own teaching I am guilty of expecting students to do things a "certain way", thereby stifling creativity. I want to begin today to look for one way that I can foster and encourage more creativity in my classroom!
ReplyDeleteThe video clip should give most of us food for thought. When given the same materials with which to work children should be able to pick out their own work even when displayed in a group of projects. If all the students' work looks identical, then there has been little opportunity for creativity. We need to teach more on thinking and perhaps working outside the box and less on staying in the lines!
ReplyDeleteWe as educators have a responsibility to help children enhance their talents and abilities. This video which I have viewed twice has given me a chance to pause and ponder the ways in which we can accomplish this in a classroom. Wouldn't it be a very boring and lifeless world without our differences and yet education for the most part has always focused on stamping us from a mold.
ReplyDeleteWill schools begin cutting the few programs that foster creativity now that economic times are bad?
I was rally impressed to see this. My husband and I were talking about that very thing the other night. I hate to see talents that children have squashed because it is not felt to be as important as other areas. To them it is very important, especially for their self esteem.
ReplyDeleteDDoggett
Creativity and Education go hand in hand. I will keep some of his points in mind as I use my "old ways" with the "new ways" of teaching. He is quite delightful in reminding us of this.
ReplyDeleteThis speech made me realize that it is challenging to teach to students who think and learn differently than we do. I am inspired to create more free choice time in the classroom and allow more independent learning time.
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