Creativity in STEAM
Creativity is a vast and
complex notion, for which
it is difficult to agree a
universal understanding.
It is often assumed to be a
binary personality trait;
we might describe a
?creative
type?.
This
labelling is problematic,
not least because it
implies so few of us are
creative.
Often
this
manifests
itself
into
traditional subject areas ?
creative minds belong in
the arts, right?
Yet creativity is a mindset,
without which what we
perceive to be the
cornerstones of mathematics and science would
never have been uncovered. It transcends subject
matter. Where advancements in any given field can
be found, you will also find creative thinking ?
alternative approaches to problems lead to
discovery, not the same old well-trodden paths.
Creativity is fundamental to our students? success,
in both their learning and transition into the
workplace. We may not be able to predict the
future job market, but the ability to think
differently when approaching problems or
generating ideas will prepare them well for any
career.
Our pedagogical approach to STEAM (and arguably
all areas, but STEAM is a helpful starting point) is
therefore an important mechanism for fostering
that creativity. Through focusing upon the
Dan Griffit hs
Programme Manager STEAM & MIT
Education Team
interconnectedness of learning and its application
to real-world scenarios, we can challenge students
to think creatively, utilising a broad range of
knowledge and skillsets to tackle problems that
don?t necessarily have a pre-determined method
or answer.
We are here to equip students with the tools they
need to succeed. In an increasingly uncertain
future, creativity is an invaluable tool for our
students to have at their disposal. Our challenge
as individuals, schools and an organisation is to
nurture creativity as best we can. Unpicking how
we achieve this requires us all to be ?creative
types.?