Thursday, October 2, 2008
Question of the next few weeks
I want you to watch the most recent youtube posting. It is titled Do Schools Today Kill Creativity? It is a 20 minute youtube. If you do not have 20 minutes, at the very least, watch the last 10 minutes of the presentation. The speaker, Ken Robinson, talks about our public education system and how we stifle creativity. After watching the youtube I want you to reflect on what you saw and think about what you learned from Daniel Pink's video that we have been watching in class. Here is your question - Do you agree or disagree with Ken Robinson and Daniel Pink? Why? Write about an experience you have had in your educational experience that allowed you to be creative. Did you learn from the experience? Or if you can not think of one, write about an opportunity that one of your teacher's missed in which you could have learned the given objective while still expressing your own creativity. You can also write about Daniel Pink's discussion on preparing our students for the current markets utilizing the right side of their brain. Tell us what you think about these things. And don't forget to post a reply to one of your classmates.
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20 comments:
I agree that the education system is taking away or denying the students right to creativity. By saying that it's is only the subjects like math, science, and english that are valuable, when students find themselves doing poorly in those subjects they automatically assume that they have no value when, in fact, they may be more intelligent than those who do excel in the "vital" subjects. Students that arent as strong in the "important" subjects are more often than not extremely strong in other fields such as art or music. These sbjects require creativity, so when saying that they are not as important or vital as the other subjects, they take away a students ability to express their imagination freely. One of my favorite classes in high school was an art class. Though i have no interest in persueing art, that class topped all because it allowed me to show an expression of who i was. I learned that you dont have to be an artist to enjoy art and art can be very expressional and a way to relieve stress. By having a break in my day where I could just let loose and enjoy expressing myself, it made me enjoy my other classes more because i wasnt so stressed. I think by having classes that allow us to express our creativity, we use more of our brain, and in turn do better in school.
I agree with both Ken robison and daniel pink and I think they are trying to make the same crucial point. Both speakers are unconfident in what direction the public education is taking us. We are now educating kids and we don't know where these kids are going in life, what they will be and what things will be like 40 years from now so how can we go by one uniform way of educating them.
It is unacceptable that our society meausres one's intelligence by a degree or an ACT score. Intelligence should not be judged by one single thing.
I can't think of any specific instances in which I had to use creativy but i do remember several of them vaguley. It appears that when teachers try to incorporate creativity in there lessons it was always forced upon me. I am a left-brained person so creativey does not come to me easily ecspecially if i am being forced to do it. I think it would have been more benificial if just had more choices (not be spoonfed) and be able to develop creativty if i wanted to and if not be able to do the assigment in the standard way.
I agree with Ken about the ways of education. I had never thought about all children being born creative and being educated out of it. When you take time to think of this, I realize that it is true. In the education program students are required to take core classes every year. These core classes include math, science, english, and social studies. Students can take a fine arts class as an elective, not a requirement. If a student does not excel in his chore classes, then he is viewed as unintelligent. When in fact, this student is in the top of his art, drama, or dance class. This student is just knowledgable in a different area and will most likely succeed in that field.
When I was in the 5th grade, I played the violen. This took a lot of creativity and brain work that i wasn't used to. I have to admit that this was the only thing I have quite in my life because I could not do it. I don't use the side of my brain that playing the violen requires. However, I did learn a lot and I believe a lot of people do have that side of the brain and need to be allowed to express their creativity.
like kelsey jo, i played an instrument in 5th grade...i think a lot of people did since that was often introduced at school then. on the contrary, i use my creativity all the time...i was just lacking in the creativity for the flute! i think creativity comes in different forms and teachers should experiment with various types of creativity
I do not nessarily think that just because our schools push the core subjects; math, history, language, and science, that they are "killilng" creativity. They put more emphasis on these classes because those are what the students are tested over. When you take the act or sat there is no art or music portion. I think that the schools are doing what they have to do to keep their accredidation. If someone is more talented in the music or art area that is great but it does not make the other subjects less important and those core subjects are what get you into college where you can explore or get more involved in those artistic abilities.
I do agree with becky on one aspect of her argument though. If a student is more artistically oriented then they may feel discouraged when they do not do as well in what the schools look at as "important" classes. There needs to be a way to keep that kind of student motivated so they can move on to a place where they can be successful.
I agree that schools are taking away creativity. In all my education classes I am learning that testing is not always the answer, yet all throughout my education I have always been tested and I still continue to be tested. I believe that this leads to lack of creativity not only for the student, but on the teacher's part as well. Everything in the classroom I am observing is sooooo structured. The instruction does not vary whatsoever and the students cannot use their own mind to develop definitions and see the difference between examples and non examples. I am not extremely creative myself, but I have always had teachers who let you search for the answers or figure out how to solve a problem on your own. None of my teachers ever had a problem with my finding an alternative way to in problem. In math especially, I do not see enough teachers who allow students to use their creativity.
Emily does have a point...teachers are doing what they HAVE to do in order to get us to pass tests such as the ACT or SAT and in NY teachers are on time schedule to make sure students learn all the material for the state test. In these instances how do you make time to cover material and allow creativity?
I do not necessarily agree that the education system is taking away creativity. Although the core classes(math,science,english,and social studies)are stressed more than creative classes(art,band,theater), creativity does not necessarily have to be eliminated. There are several ways teachers can incorporate creativity into their classes. One idea that I agree with is that written tests are not always the best way to test a person's knowledge of a subject. I personally, have never been the best at taking written tests, even if I knew the material front to back. I think that it is helpful for teachers to use other creative strategies, as well as tests, to help identify a student's knowledge.
Like Kelsey and Becky, I also played an instument in middle school. I played the flute from 5th to 8th grade and was actually pretty successfull at it. This was a suprise to me, because I am not the most creative person. I was never good at drawing or art classes and did not enjoy them at all.
I don't really think that the education system is taking away creativity. I think that they push the main classes like math, science and english because that is what we are tested on. They are told to teach certain things because it is on the act or sat. Just because they don't stress the creative classes like music and art there can still be creativity in calssrooms. Teachers can think of different ways to test students knowledge rather then giving them test on paper all the time. I think that it is a good idea for teachers to use creativity in classrooms to see the knewledge students gain.
I agree with abby. I think that teachers should use different strategies to test students knewledge. I agree that not all students are good test takers and there is differnet ways to test what they have learned
I think that the education system could do a better job of encouraging creativity. Schools do a relatively good job when kids are younger. For example, my mom is a preschool teacher, and the kids in her class are given numerous opportunities to explore their creative side. They sing, dance, paint, play, and so much more. But as the kids get older, they are given fewer opportunities for creativity. School becomes all about the "core" subjects. I especially liked that the example of dance was used in the youtube video because I am a dancer. I have never been in a school where dance classes were offered. There are few in St. Louis but only a few. I think that the arts should be on the same playing field as math, science, and english. They both require thought, creativity, and ability--just a different type.
I do agree with alyssa e, though. Teachers are almost forced to stick to the core because they need their class to score well in order to be considered a "successful" teacher. Students are tested on science, math, english, and reading because it can be tested. It's a little more difficult to test art, music, or dance. So kids are only tested in math, science, etc.
I have to say that i kind of agree with both of them because i belive that the core subjects are being pushed on students. The cor subjects are however very important though but creativity is also very important. Without creativity there proubably would be a lot of stress in the world. The core subjects for me created a little stress but sports and other activities helped me deal with that stress and channel it for better purposes.
i agree that the educational system is ruining students ability to be creative. they focus mostly on the main subjects like math, science, and reading and if a student doesn't excell in these subjects they are considered not smart. But in fact they could be above average in other subjects like music, art, or even writing. And when the educational system thinks that the only important subjects are the main subjects and they don't focus or care about other ones it can hurt students by not giving them a chance. I totally agree with what becky said and i think we need to have more programs available that enhance students creativity. when i was in high school my business teacher was trying to teach us how the business world works and he did a really creative project were we went on a field trip and got to see and observe how a small business works, instead of just reading about it in class.
I agree that yes, schools do kill the creative side. In school i have always kept my grades up but my favorite subjects were not the core classes. I execel in art and in sports where as some of my friends are way better at math and they would be considered a better student. Which i dont think is really fair. It is funny to see that our entertainment bussiness is huge and they make a lot more then what a lot of us ever will. If you ever see interviews with these people they usually didnt do well in school and in many cases didnt finish. So yes i agree that school puts a downer on you if you cant do the main courses
I do not think that teachers are neccesairily killing creativity. I think that it is very important to teach the core subjects, and maybe introduce art and music into the curriculm. The teachers are just teaching what tey feel the children will need to be successful in life, and to that teacher it might be science math and history.
I do agree with becky. Just because you are not playing the flute doesn't mean that teachers aren't being creative in their classrooms. There are many other ways to be creative. Teachers are just doing what they are supposed to be doing, but I do think they can add some more creative ideas into their lesson plans.
I do agree with the education system. I think that schools are taking education away from students. Some kinda of creative things I did in high school that helped me to learn more was going on school field trips, games, and group projects. Through field trips you can understand more clearly and see it visually. Games can help you get your mind going. Group projects you can get help from others not just not one person.
i also think that the traditional system is limiting our childrens creativity. If they are most talented in subject other than core subjects they are not rewarded as highly, they are not considered bright, simply artistic. every child should be recognized for what they are good at and a child who is good at math should not be favorited more than a child who is good at drawing.
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