Strategies for developing creativity and ct
- 1. STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING CREATIVITY AND CRITICAL THINKING A guide for implementation
- 2. Strategies for: Creativity Critical Thinking Questioning Assumptions Using Questions Define and Redefine Classroom Discussion and Problems Debates Ideas Generation Case Study /Discussion Cross-Fertilize Ideas Method Creative Collaboration Use Writing Assignments Cooperative Learning Strategies
- 3. Creativity Questioning Assumptions There are many assumptions that we have in our daily life that we may not even be aware that they are assumptions as they are widely shared. Encourage students to question those assumptions and eventually lead others to do the same. Teach students when to question and when not to can be a tough balancing act. Make questioning a part of the daily classroom exchange.
- 4. Creativity Define and Redefine Problems Have students pick their own topic for projects or papers relevant to the curriculum and subject to teacher’s approval as to ensure that it is appropriate to the course’s objectives. If students made the incorrect choices the first time, allow them to redefine their choices. The ability to recognize mistake is a learning process itself.
- 5. Creativity Ideas Generation Allow students to generate ideas and solutions once they defined their project. Provide an environment that is relatively free of criticism. Praise students for new ideas and suggest new approaches for ideas that seems uncreative.
- 6. Creativity Cross-Fertilize Ideas Allow students to think across subjects and disciplines, to think outside the box.
- 7. Creativity Creative Collaboration Encourage students to work in groups as collaboration can spur creativity. Students learn by examples like the techniques and approaches others used. Encourage team spirit when they work together.
- 8. Critical Thinking Using Questions Use a variety of questioning technique to promote critical thinking. Higher-level thinking questions will lead to situations where students are challenged at different cognitive levels. Socratic questioning technique will probe meaning, justification and line of reasoning.
- 9. Critical Thinking Classroom Discussion and Debates Various techniques can be used here, one of them is the negotiation model developed by Bernstein. Students are presented with credible but antagonistic arguments which will create tension between students as they debate among themselves. They will be challenged to deal with the tension and that is one element to spark creativity.
- 10. Critical Thinking Case Study /Discussion Method Students are presented with a case (or story) without a conclusion. Students are led through a discussion by the teacher with prepared questions. Students are allowed to construct a conclusion for the case.
- 11. Critical Thinking Use Writing Assignments This strategy allows students to expand their thinking processes. Written assignments set must promote thoughts and should be short. Composing poems is not limited to English class, but can be used in any classes.
- 12. Critical Thinking Cooperative Learning Strategies Allow students to work in groups as group learning situations is probably the best way to foster critical thinking. Very often when students work in structured cooperative learning groups, they are receiving continuous support and feedback from other students and the teacher, they tend to be more critical and creative in thinking.
- 13. Reference Sternberg, Robert and Williams, Wendy M. Teaching for Creativity: Two Dozen Tips Walker Stacy E. Active Learning Strategies to Promote Critical Thinking.