In our last class meeting, we had a discussion about curiosity and creativity. During class, our professor, Dr. John Strange, challenged us with a series of questions based on this topic. The questions were:
1. Do schools in the United States systematically destroy (or inhibit) the development of curiosity and/or creativity in students? If yes, why does that happen? If no, how do you counter the argument of Sir Ken Robinson that schools do undermine the development of creativity in students?
2. Can a curriculum be developed that increases the curiosity of students? If so, what would be the key components of such a curriculum?
3. Can a curriculum be developed that increases the creativity of students? If so, what would be the key components of such a curriculum?
4. Can a teacher's actions increase the curiosity of students? If so, what would be those actions?
5. Can a teacher's actions increase the creativity of students? If so, what would be those actions?
6. What would help you become more creative? What role would teachers and/or schools have in that process?
7. What would help you become more curious? What role would teachers and/or schools have in that process?
In my opinion, schools in the United States do inhibit the development of curiosity and creativity in students. I do not blame specific educators for this. I think that the higher authorities of the education system inhibit these ideas. They primarily focus on test scores and results in order to evaluate how a school is doing. This method really only need students to briefly memorize information and repeat it back for an easy grade. They really won't have to learn anything. There is a curriculum, however, that can be used to increase the curiosity of students. One key component that this curriculum would need to have is topics and assignments that captures students attention and makes them eager to learn. If students are excited about what they are learning, they will be increasingly curious to learn more. Not only can a curriculum be developed to increase curiosity, it can also increase creativity. In order to do this, the curriculum would need to allow student to think outside of the box. Not only will this peak students curiosity, it also will get students more involved in the curriculum. This could also result in better grades and actually learning material better as well. Teachers also have the ability to increase students curiosity. In order to do so, it goes back to what I said about the curriculum increasing curiosity. If teachers challenge students with material that captures their attention then their curiosity is going to peak as well. As well, teachers can increase students creativity. They have to challenge students to use their minds and think outside the box. To help me be more creative and curious, I would have to use my mind more. By being challenged to do more creative things I could be more creative. Also, in order to be more curious, I would have to more interested in the topics. The role of a teacher would be as a challenger. Helping students get more into what they are learning but not doing it for them. The role of a students would be the person being challenged. To learn from being shown the direction but not having the work done for them. Instead, they learn from doing it on their own.
make it interesting. Challenge students. These are both useful approaches.
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