What is Creativity? “Creativity is a process which generates ideas that have value to the individual. It involves looking at familiar things with a fresh eye, examining problems with an open mind, making connections, learning from mistakes and using imagination to explore new possibilities.” Education Scotland 2010

Creativity can help learners not only survive, but to thrive in our fast changing world. Creativity skills help learners to be: Motivated and ambitious for change; Confident in their capabilities and the validity of their own viewpoint; Able to transfer their creativity skills to other contexts; Able to lead and work well with others. Crucially, creativity can be the hook which engages learners, influencing their attainment and achievement. In addition, as they are core to employability, creativity skills can help learners not only prepare for the world of work but also to shape their own job opportunities. Importance of Creativity

Creativity is concerned with developing a range of transferrable skills in young people, preparing them for learning, life and work. Creativity skills help children and young people not just to understand their world, but be sufficiently equipped to influence its shape and to exercise control over their interactions with it. It should be a theme across all areas of the curriculum where there is a common approach working in partnership with parents and the community promoting essential skills for learning, life and work.

Creativity should link to all 4 aspects of the Curriculum Successful learners Attributes Enthusiasm and motivation for learning Determination to reach high standards of achievement Openness to new thinking and ideas Capabilities Use literacy, communication and numeracy skills Use technology for learning Think creatively and independently Learn independently and as part of a group Make reasoned evaluations Link and apply different kinds of learning in new situations able to harness imagination, by: exploring, synthesising and refining multiple options; generating and refining ideas; and inventing. Confident Individuals Attributes Self-respect A sense of physical, mental and emotional well-being Secure values and beliefs Ambition Capabilities Relate to others and manage themselves Pursue a healthy and active lifestyle Be self-aware Develop and communicate their own beliefs and view of the world Live as independently as they can Assess risk and make informed decisions Achieve success in different areas of activity. Successful Learners Confident Individuals Responsible Citizens Effective Contributors

Creativity should link to all 4 aspects of the Curriculum Successful learners Attributes Enthusiasm and motivation for learning Determination to reach high standards of achievement Openness to new thinking and ideas Capabilities Use literacy, communication and numeracy skills Use technology for learning Think creatively and independently Learn independently and as part of a group Make reasoned evaluations Link and apply different kinds of learning in new situations able to harness imagination, by: exploring, synthesising and refining multiple options; generating and refining ideas; and inventing. Confident Individuals Attributes Self-respect A sense of physical, mental and emotional well-being Secure values and beliefs Ambition Capabilities Relate to others and manage themselves Pursue a healthy and active lifestyle Be self-aware Develop and communicate their own beliefs and view of the world Live as independently as they can Assess risk and make informed decisions Achieve success in different areas of activity.

Creativity should link to all 4 aspects of the Curriculum Responsible Citizens Attributes Respect for others Commitment to participate responsibly in political, economic, social and cultural life Capabilities Develop knowledge and understanding of the world and Scotland’s place in it Understand different beliefs and cultures Make informed choices and decisions Evaluate environmental, scientific and technological issues Develop informed, ethical vies of complex issues able to harness imagination, by: exploring, synthesising and refining multiple options; generating and refining ideas; and inventing. Effective Contributors Attributes An enterprising attitude Resilience Self-resilience Capabilities Communicate in different ways and in different settings Work in partnership and in teams Take the initiative and lead Apply critical thinking in new contexts Create and develop Solve problems

Creative Thinking Skills able to identify and solve problems, by: understanding and defining problems; crafting, delivering and presenting solutions; demonstrating initiative, discipline, persistence and resilience; evaluating impact and success of solutions; and identifying and implementing next steps in refinement or development process. open-minded, by: using lateral thinking; using divergent thinking; hypothesising; exploring multiple viewpoints; and being flexible, adaptable and functioning well with uncertainty. constructively inquisitive, by: being curious; registering patterns and anomalies; making use of previous knowledge; researching productively; and formulating good questions. able to harness imagination, by: exploring, synthesising and refining multiple options; generating and refining ideas; and inventing.

Importance of Creativity We can think of Creativity being divided into four aspects as stated through Education Scotland: Creative Learning – learners are using their creativity skills Creative Teaching – educators are using their creativity skills Developing Creativity Skills – where learners skills are expressly being ‘taught’ or developed Creative Improvement – where creativity is used to innovate systems, administration and strategy

Have a look at the list of departments and facilities within the school that help you to have an excellent education. Creative skills are embedded within every department. In what subjects do you feel that you learn most creative skills? Consider Learning, Teaching, Skills and Improvement. Think back to the skills slides, it is creativity in the widest sense. Creativity Across the Curriculum Departments Art & Design Biology Business Education Chemistry Computing Science Confucius Hub Design and Technology Design and Technology Drama English Geography History Home Economics Library Mathematics Modern Languages Modern Studies Music Pastoral Support Physical Education Physics Religious Education Support for Learning

Science Animations Games Design - Computing Just two examples from departments where creative thinking skills take place

There are many opportunities in all departments to develop skills mentioned in the previous slides. In your jotter write down a skill and give an example of how you have developed each skill. Also put a department as a heading that you feel contributes most to the development of the stated skill. Example Physical Education Demonstrating initiative: I have the ability to demonstrate initiative in Physical Education by taking part in …. Skills being curious registering patterns and anomalies making use of previous knowledge researching productively formulating good questions exploring, synthesising and refining multiple options generating and refining ideas and inventing using lateral thinking using divergent thinking hypothesising exploring multiple viewpoints being flexible, adaptable and functioning well with uncertainty understanding and defining problems crafting, delivering and presenting solutions demonstrating initiative, discipline, persistence and resilience evaluating impact and success of solutions identifying and implementing next steps in refinement or development process. Skills Development – Why is it important for me? Skills for Learning, Life and Work