Why is Creativity and Innovation so important?
When talking about 21st Century Pedagogy the notion of creativity and innovation is often referenced. It is one of the components of 21st Century Pedagogy that often causes teachers, schools and even Districts concern. Creativity and innovation is often thought of as synonymous with new initiatives but it is not.
When we are presented with challenges, educational challenges or challenges in any other aspect of life, we need to problem solve to find solutions to those challenges. One can suppose it is safe to assume the challenges exist because either a situation has changed or the practices used in the past have ceased to be effective.
To be more specific and concrete, Math continues to be an area of the curriculum Ontario students find difficult and perform below the level of proficiency set by the Province. This would suggest the strategies teachers have been using to teach and support their students are not providing the results the educational community would like to see. How do we respond??
We could choose to continue to do what we have always done, or we could develop creative and innovative strategies, responsive to the student learning classroom teachers observe, to ensure student success. In the vernacular of a problem of practice, if we begin to look at Creative and innovative strategies to make Math come alive for students, assisted by the use of technology, then students will gain a better understanding of Math and demonstrate improved competency. Finding new and creative approaches to teaching mathematics does not represent a new initiative but rather presenting new ways to more effectively present mathematical concepts for students.
Creativity and innovation are highly desired skills by current employers and one can only assume will continue to be desired skills for the future. When one considers the rate of change and technical development talking place currently, the ability of business and industry to stay viable and competitive will depend on the creative and innovative skills of their employees. More importantly when one considers the challenges facing the world today, answers to these challenges will not come easily. It will require a will to find solutions and it will require creative and innovative thinkers willing to challenge the status quo. The static and lock-step education provided in 20th Century classrooms will not provide the kind of thinkers needed for the 21st Century.
I find it ironic we talk about the 21st Century skills our students will need for the future but they are skills educators are hesitant to adopt for themselves. We need to be the models of 21st Century thinking. We need to be creative, innovative and we need to be prepared to take risks for the benefit of our students. Being bold is not about introducing new initiatives, but rather it is about looking for new, creative and innovative ways to support our students in becoming capable, competent citizens ready to take on the challenges of the future.
