Encouraging Creativity in the Classroom Through Learning Failures
Research conducted by Professor Kyun Hee Kim at the College of William and Mary shows that creativity among American students is in a period of decline. This fact is most strongly underscored by the striking decline in entrepreneurial drive among people under the age of 30. While this trend may partially stem from reduced tolerance for risk and failure in the aftermath of the economic recession, educators can undertake new approaches to education that encourage creativity. By encouraging “learning failures,” teachers and students can work together to undertake experiments that try out new forms of student engagement and grading policies. Some people may ask what happens when an experiment fails, but the answer is simple: unexpected results are not failures per se. Results need to be shared, discussed, and used for continual improvement. It is also necessary to recognize that creativity can be encouraged within traditional academic disciplines such as math, science, and history; art and literature aren't the only fields where students can experiment and express themselves. In addition, educators can adopt a different attitude towards creativity. Rather than thinking of it as something that occurs spontaneously in gifted individuals, teachers and administrators can consider creativity a learned skill that can be nurtured over time with practice.
