Midterm Checkpoint

Midterm Checkpoint

Wow!  I can’t believe we are already half way through the semester.  I must admit that I never thought that I would get to this point with work and the two graduate courses I am taking.  Now, only if I can make it the last half! J

What I have I learned this far?  This course has been extremely beneficial to me over the past few weeks.  I personally have never thought of myself as a creative person and still do not.  However, from our many readings and activities, I now realize the importance of creativity in schools and being creative does not necessarily mean being able to “create” something.  I have learned that a student’s creative ability can be demonstrated in numerous ways such as their ability to think critically, to actually create or design something, as well as the way they handle certain situations or problems. 

In order for our student’s to be able to compete in today’s job market, teachers, including myself, must think of more ways to bring creativity into our classrooms.  Students need to be challenged constantly to think outside the norm and formulate their own ideas.  I fear that too many educators believe that we should teach students that every problem has one single answer.  However, from our readings, I now understand that children should not learn this way.  They must be given the opportunity to see multiple outcomes in one problem. 

Surprises  Unfortunately, I have not had any surprises while examining my creativity.  I still understand that I am not the most creative person, but I do now understand the importance of helping my student’s understand that we ALL can be creative (yes, even me).  In our readings, I read that teachers and older adults must not give in to their lack of creativeness rather they should demonstrate that they as well have potential. 

How views changed?  I now believe that we are all capable of possessing some sort of creative skill.  Also, I have learned that no matter the material being presented, there is a way to bring creativity into everything.  Students should be encouraged daily to think outside the norm.  Curriculum should be designed to incorporate creativity into all units and lessons. 

Articles I enjoyed the article discussing “mental happenings.”  I found it extremely interesting that many famous writers, scientists, etc made discoveries and inventions through mysterious mental happenings.  I immediately told my students about a view of these different people.  I have also found the three Roeper Review journal articles to be extremely beneficial.  Many ideas and strategies were explained in the three articles that I have put to use in my classroom. 

Changes As I have previously stated, I am working on designing more and more lessons for my students that involve an aspect of creativity.  From my readings, I now understand there are multiple ways a students can demonstrate their creativity in all lessons.  Products do not necessarily have to be your traditional “poster” rather they can me the way a child answered a critical thinking question.  Also, I will now stop declaring to my students that I am not creative and give my students opportunities to see that they ALL can possess some sort of creative skills. 

Definitions and Theories

There is not one single definition or theory to explain creativity.  The following definitions, person’s and ideas demonstrate different perspectives on creativity.  

Otto Rank described the creative type as one who is well adjusted and self-actualized.  

“We are all born with a will to be ourselves, to be free of domination.  In early childhood, we exercise our will in our efforts to do things independently of our parents.” 

(http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/rank.html)

Example:  The Lion King

In the movie the Lion King, young Simba is warned not to go beyond outside the kingdom’s land.  However, young Simba and his companion Nala do not listen and find themselves in danger.  They are exploring their own freedom in a world of domination.  This mocks Rank’s idea that children want to be independent to find domination.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=fvwp&v=KXs8OS6EdAE

Jung’s Psychological Type- human consciousness

Jung’s psychological type of creativity involves individuals experiencing creativity through life’s lessons, emotional shocks, and experiences of passion and human crises.  

Example:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO5oDScu4ps

The hit show Full House opening theme song discusses the unpredictabilities of the world and how one can lean on others for support.  The writers of Full House presented each episode with some sort of problem and demonstrated how a family can work together to overcome struggles.  

Jung’s Visionary Type- collective unconscious 

Dreams and thoughts lead to an individuals creative processes.  

Torrance Creative Type- creative person, creative product, and creative press

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLO5SJ2uxEE&feature=relmfu

This video clip demonstrates the steps taken in creative thinking through a science experiment by creating a crystal bubble.  

The Creative Press-  social and psychological environment of creativity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpu50t97U0M

The environment of the magic school bus creates an environment for exploration and creativity to occur during each episode.  

Mental Happenings:

In Art:  My grandfather was an avid painter who never had a preconceived idea before painting.  His art work came from current thoughts and ideas.

In Music:  Mental happenings in music remind me of someone who can play by music by ear.  My grandmother can sit down on the piano and play anything you wish for her to play as well as put music notes together making melodies.  

In Science:  Albert Einstein’s unique way’s of thinking led to his finding’s of general relativity.  

In Literature: Writer’s who “happen” to run across their idea’s in unique environments.  

Coke Can Transformation

Coke Can Transformed into a Decorative Vase

How do you turn a Coke can into an object?  When I got this assignment, I immediately asked my friends, family and colleagues for any ideas and suggestions.  I received an array of responses from the North Carolina State Wolf (due to my family going to the game this weekend) to a container to be used for pencils, pens and scissors to a lady bug.  However, I did not chose any of these options.  

Today when I went to my sisters house to use her three year old’s craft box, my niece helped me come up with the idea to make a vase.  First, we went outside and picked the prettiest flowers we could see (her words exactly).  Then we went inside and began decorating.  We found a bag of fury balls that I knew we could use.  Therefore, we glued them to a green felt background.  Once we assembled the background we finished the vase by adding flowers.  

After assembling the vase with my three year old niece, being a teacher I knew I needed to make a connection to this assignment and the environment.  I explained the importance of recycling and how the vase we made was made from a recycled Coke can.  I hope this project was beneficial to her and taught her a lesson about recycling.  

10 Characteristics of Creativity: My Grandfather

“Of all human activities, creativity comes closest to providing the fulfillment we all hope to get in our lives.  Call it full blast living.”  Mihaly Csikszentimihalyi

Before reading the article “The Creative Personality” by Mihaly Csikszentimihalyi I immediately thought of my grandfather and wondered if I was about to read an article exactly about him.  Sure enough, as I was reading about the 10 characteristics a creative person has, my grandfather possessed each of the qualities.  My grandfather passed away 5 years ago and was probably the most creative and talented person I have ever met.  My grandfather who I called Pa was an avid painter, decorator, musician, and always had great advice about how to handle all situations.   

1. Creative people have a great deal of physical energy, but they’re also often quiet and at rest.  My Pa’s presence in a room was always calm and peaceful,however I always could see his mind churning.  If given a task, he would complete it to the fullest and not give up until it was completed with 100% accuracy. 
2. Creative people tend to be smart yet naive at the same time.  This trait really explains my Pa.  He always acted as he wasn’t sure of what someone was talking about,however, he secretly did.  I believe it was his way of letting people get their point and wants across before he stepped in an gave his opinion and ideas. 
3.  Creative people combine playfulness and discipline, or responsibility and irresponsibility.  My grandfather’s favorite past time was to play with his paintings.  Pa would go into his studio and create master pieces based on his thoughts, feelings and/or ideas.  Sometimes he would begin painting with no idea on the outcome while others he knew exactly what he wanted to create. 
4. Creative people alternate between imagination and fantasy, and a rooted sense of reality.  As I mentioned previously, my Pa’s imagination really showed in his paintings.  However, Pa was able to create planned and organized mater pieces.  He also demonstrated his wonderful imagination through the stories who would tell my brother, sister and I.
5.  Creative people tend to be both extroverted and introverted.  Sometimes I would go to my grandfather’s house and he would be in the best mood and want to get down and play with my siblings and I.  Other times he was extremely content being in his studio or sitting back and watching us play.
6.  Creative people are humble and proud at the same time.  My Pa was the most humble man I know.  His artwork filled family and friends homes and he never let it show how proud he actually was.  However, I know he was extremely proud. 
7. Creative people, to an extent, escape rigid gender role stereotyping.  My Pa was extremely artistic and often came across as very feminine.  However, he was happily married to my grandmother and did not let it bother him that he was often seen as different.  
8. Creative people are both rebellious and conservative.  My Pa was very rebellious in his artwork demonstrated through his paintings.  However, he was extremely conservative in his actions and words. 
9. Most creative people are very passionate about their work, yet they can be extremely objective about it as well.   Pa was very passionate about his paintings and decorating skills, however he was very open to criticism.  I often remember my grandmother telling him something she did not like and he was willing to listen to her point of view. 
10. Creative people’s openness and sensitivity often exposes them to suffering and pain, yet also to a great deal of enjoyment.  Pa was a very sensitive man but willing to listen to criticism and open to changing his ways.  

My Pa was a very influential in my life.  It is amazing that he fell into the categories of all 10 characteristics.  I only hope to be half the man he was one day.  I am proud to say he was my grandfather and possess many of his paintings in my house today. 

10 Mental Blocks

Everyday I hear mention of the lack of one’s own creativity among my colleagues, students, family or friends.  Roger VonOech’s 10 mental blocks are all very familiar to me.  WIth the majority of my time being spent in an educational setting, the most repetitive of VonOech’s 10 mental blocks that I hear are “The Right Answer, Be Practical, Follow the Rules, and I’m not creative.”  Children today are often taught from day one to follow the rules and be practical therefore many of children’s responses are I’m not creative, I can’t do it.”  I must admit I am guilty of this idea as well.   

How many lessons a day do I plan for one right answer?  How often do I allow opportunity for my student’s to explore their own creativity?  I need to personally make it a goal to design more lessons based around my student’s exploration of their own creativity.  With state designed tests and lessons, many times teachers are limited in the time allowed for student creativity.  However, we as teachers must be aware of this idea and design state mandated curriculum in a more creative way.  I do believe it is do able and teachers must be willing to commit more time to encouraging a child’s individual creative thoughts and ideas.