Food for Thought: Can Creativity Be Taught?

The following excerpt is from my part of a conversation on the Learning, Education, and Training Professionals Group on LinkedIn.

Amy Stempel: There is a big difference between intellectual creativity and artistic creativity and I think we confuse the two all the time. Intellectual creativity is not “anything goes” nor is it especially artistic. Albert Einstein had to work within and explain the known rules of the universe before he could convince people of the Theory of Relativity. Truly creative people do not, in fact cannot, ignore the realities in which they find themselves. What they do is to interpret and make connections between and among facts and disciplines in ways that no one else has previously done. True intellectual creativity requires making peace with limits and constraints. That's why it's creative. 

     Now, can you teach it? Yes and no. Counterintuitively, people need frameworks to begin creative thinking (see text structures). Those can be taught. However, only practice, participation, and experience with these structures and intellectual "problems" can develop intellectual creativity. 

The only way to adequately teach “higher-order thinking”, “critical thinking”, or "creative" thinking is through the written analysis of facts and data, just like the only way to lose weight is to exercise and eat healthy food. However, we have tried just about everything to avoid the teaching of thinking and writing, just like millions will try anything to avoid exercise and healthy food—pills, fad diets, sweat lodges, you name it. Why is this? We know it works; why do we avoid it? Because, it takes discipline, deep knowledge, and constant reflection. It's not "inspiration" (at least not alone). It's not "you have it or you don't". Like anything worth developing it takes helpful teaching and extensive individual use, feedback, and more practice.

Glen Hoffherr (Chief Learning Officer at USA Graduate.com): Amy you are correct, however, creativity is more often a result of synthesis than analysis in my experience.

Amy: I agree. If analysis is the breaking apart of information/ideas, then synthesis is the "rebuilding" of those ideas in a new way. However, the only way to do that effectively is to know the parts extremely well so that one can see how they interact. I work with secondary students and I find when we try to go straight to synthesis; they fail miserably because they do not have deep knowledge of the parts. I really think there is a "process" to creativity. It may be a highly idiosyncratic process, but every "creative" person has one. One solution to teaching intellectual creativity is to teach process AND then require lots and lots of practice. I think the practice piece gets forgotten in schools/organizations these days.

Tips for Students: Ten Things For 9th & 10th Graders To Consider Now To Ease The College Application Process

As someone who helps high school seniors with their college applications, I tend to see students at the end of their high school careers. For the purposes of their college applications, the race is run. They have the grades they are going to have, they have the activities, awards, and leadership positions they are going to have. I can help them frame these activities, but they can’t go back and undo the decisions they have already made.

In 9^th and 10^th grades college seems years away, but those years will pass quickly. Beginning in the 9^th grade (or as soon as possible), you will want to set yourself up so that when it comes time to write your applications, you will have all the necessary elements to win admission to the college of your choice—even if you don’t know which college that is right now. Most of this is common sense, but it never hurts to take stock of your direction before you go way off course. Getting on the “right” path at the beginning means less wandering in the woods later, wishing you had done things differently.

Review these elements of a successful high school career and see where you can strengthen your credentials:

1. Choose a high school curriculum that challenges you.

By your junior year (at least) you should be taking several Honors/Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate classes. Colleges want to know that you value learning and are willing to work—a challenging curriculum shows this. This is true even if you get Bs and Cs in these advanced courses. Better to challenge yourself than drift through high school.

2. Earn grades that represent strong effort and an upward trend.

It is best that your grades show an upward trend over the years, especially your junior year! IMPORTANT: slightly lower grades in a rigorous program (like Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate) are preferred to all As in less challenging coursework. Many students and parents don't believe this, but it is absolutely true.

3. Work for solid scores on standardized tests (SAT, ACT).

Take your first round of tests in the spring of your junior year. Depending on your scores, you will then have time to prepare and take them again in the fall of your senior year. You will learn everything you need to do well on these tests in the classes you take in high school. Pay attention.

4. Develop a passionate involvement in a few activities, demonstrating leadership and initiative.

Depth, not breadth, of experience is most important. Again, many students and parents don't believe this, but it’s true. Don’t overextend. It also will make high school that much more enjoyable. Colleges don’t want you to “collect” extra-curriculars; they want happy, interested, well-adjusted students with developed talents.

5. Participate in community service that shows evidence you are a "contributor."

Even if your school doesn't require it, community service is good for everyone. Colleges try to admit students who will go on to perform some service for the world. Any activities that demonstrate concern for other people, a global view, and for which you volunteer count as community service. Also, it makes you a better person and teaches you valuable lessons about how the world works.

6. Find work and/or out-of-school experiences (including summer activities) that illustrate responsibility, dedication, and development of areas of interest.

A job or other meaningful use of free time demonstrates maturity. While it might seem helpful if your parents are able get you an internship in their friend’s prestigious law firm, colleges are not fooled. They know you were handed that opportunity and didn't work for it. It's best to start early with part-time or summer work that you obtain on your own and gradually work into more responsibility. Although everyone needs a vacation, use your summers wisely!

7. Get help when you need it.

If your grades start to slip or you are confused about something, get help early and often. Sometimes help is just a quick review from your teacher. Sometimes help is long-term tutoring in a subject. The sooner you get help, the less you will struggle and the better your grades.

8. Remember you will need letters of recommendation from teachers and guidance counselors that give evidence of integrity, special skill, and positive character traits.

In order to receive helpful recommendations when the time comes, you will need to work well with and for at least a few of your teachers. Start developing those relationships now, so that those teachers you ask will be able to recommend you happily and without reservation. Letters from coaches or supervisors in long-term work or volunteer activities are valuable, but not necessary. However, recommendations from casual acquaintances or family friends, even if they're well known, are rarely given much weight. Everyone wants to believe they have an "in", but it just doesn't work that way (except in extremely rare cases: parents paid for a new library, father is president of the United States, etc.) Most of us just have to stand on our merits. 

9. Do not post pictures or bragging of a compromising nature on Facebook, MySpace or any other on-line social networking venue. Do not send compromising pictures of yourself to your boy/girlfriend (or anyone else for that matter!).
Colleges check. Google makes it phenomenally easy, and they do it regularly. On-line items you think are private are not, especially when you break up with said boy/girlfriend. That picture you thought was “just for him (or her)” will make the rounds and colleges will see it. That you were naïve enough to let it on to the internet will not speak well of your judgment.

10. Stay out of serious trouble!

Any school related disciplinary actions (suspension, expulsion, etc.) will be reported by your high school to the colleges to which you apply (see Secondary School Report on the Common Application). You must report any adult convictions in the court system on your applications. Colleges do check, so don't think you can lie about it. If you do end up with a blemish on your record, you will need to address it truthfully on your application. As long as you are honest about it and show that you have learned from your mistake, it shouldn't prevent you from being accepted. 


Finally, remember to enjoy high school! Do what you love, and your college applications and choices will fall into place!