One trend that’s slowly taking shape in the domain of education is the shift from students as consumers to creators. Conventionally, students are taught to consume huge chunks of information over the span of the first twenty-something years of their lives, which is collectively referred to as education.
Now, while engagement and interaction are recognized as a necessary part of the process, it only remains to be seen how the aspect of creation is thrown into the mix.
So, the all-important question is, shouldn’t students be involved in the process of creation as much as they’re with the process of consumption? In order to shed light on it further, we have come up with some innovative ways for teachers to promote the process of creation among the students.
Begin and conclude every class with a little creativity
It doesn’t quite matter whether it’s poetry or a quick doodle of the geological record, as long as it promotes creativity in the class and leaves the student intrigued and inspired when the bell rings. You’ll have to time your creative inputs accordingly, make it relevant to your lessons, and all these efforts will pay off for sure.
Let students create a product for other students
Social entrepreneurship is a trend in education that’s on an upward swing, and for a good reason too. Creating something to benefit your own life is always great, but building something to help other people can work as a powerful reserve of motivation.
Have content-based weekly assessments and practical application tests mid-term
Various psychological researches have proven that long content-based exams conducted mid-way through the term and again at the end of the term are ineffective. However, weekly quizzes can be a great alternative for an assessment, which reinforces what they’ve gathered in their memory, and offers more effective outcomes than if they cram before major exams.
“Now while Mid-terms and finals are definitely essential, you should be evaluating how efficiently (and creatively) your students might implement the knowledge they’ve gathered in the real world, not how well they retain the contents in their memory”, says Will Forster, an expert on assignment help from MyAssignmmenthelp.com.
Don’t engage in a lecture for the whole period
As a teacher initiating all the discussions in the entire span of a period, even if they pause to ask questions or divide the students into discussion groups, will only set the students up for passive consumption of knowledge. In the process, they would subsequently forget what you are teaching them. Creation should be a part of every class, period.
Let the students record their own learning as a part of an ongoing project
It might sound a little weird, but the ideal way for students to remember any new information is to be conscious that they learn it. So, however they want to record their progress, be it visually, aurally, literally, is entirely up to them. Teachers can ask the students to keep track of it, and then have them submit it throughout the term, not only to be evaluated, but to make sure they are keeping at it.
Don’t use the physical textbooks; rather go for an interactive learning material
Why opt for passive readings when you can implement active ones? Check for online versions of textbooks with interactive options, like space for note-taking and embedded videos.
Have a cross-disciplinary approach whenever it’s applicable
Nothing boosts creativity like reinventing connections between two seemingly unassociated subjects. Apply art to science, science to art, poetry to math, and psychology to performing arts as often as you can.
Make creation a criterion in every assignment
This is an essential aspect that should be maintained. Most college homework or assessments these days comprise of writing or reading. You’ll be amazed at the transformation that comes in the learning process of a student when they are encouraged to do something with what they have learned in class.
Let students curate their own syllabus
It’s usual for instructors to pass on the note-cards at the start of the term, asking students what they’d like to learn or leave the class if they’re not interested. Teachers can take one step further and ask them (maybe as part of an early assignment) to prepare their own version of the syllabus, either from scratch or as a modified version of the one you’ve already presented them with.
If you don’t create something, at least talk about creating something
Classroom interactions often circle around theories and pre-defined concepts, but you can make an exception and shift the approach to make it practical. This could be easier said than done, specifically in case of English or Philosophy courses, for instance, but the simple act of trying it out will certainly result in meaningful and interesting outcomes.
Have a particular space for encouraging the process of creation
This is a huge phenomenon in educational institutions across the world. More institutions are establishing physical spaces where students can learn and build together, implementing content-and-product-centric activities as part of their instruction. With the way students are flocking towards these spaces with enthusiasm and talent, it’d be wise to adopt them sooner rather than later.
Focus on the unfamiliar
Keep an eye on the strange, exotic, or unique elements of your subject. Don’t forget to explore the uncharted territories. Delve into the mysterious. This way, the students can move away from the blatant consumption and start thinking, whenever they sense an unfamiliar concept.
Encourage risks
Every creative act involves a certain amount of risk. So, teachers should remind students as often as they can of the innumerable rewards that come from treading off the beaten track.
Welcome the mistakes
The mistakes made by the students can come in many forms, like wrong answers, poorly understood concepts or misheard instructions. But these mistakes should always be identified as a natural part of the learning process, even a beneficial one. Students today are just as horrified of failure as they ever were, and it’s the teacher’s responsibility to let them know they won’t succeed without becoming familiar with failure.
Wrapping it up,
Teaching students the significance of creation and critical thinking should be viewed as one of the central roles of the teachers and educational institutions in society.
The author, Denis Gibbs provides dissertation help online apart from writing engaging blogs. Please refer the author section below to know more.
