In the world of scientific accomplishment and the pursuit of genius, Albert Einstein emerges as an unparalleled figure. His enduring significance lies in the extraordinary and groundbreaking contributions he made, shaping the foundations of modern physics and leaving an indelible mark on the philosophy of science.
Einstein's impact extends far beyond the confines of academic disciplines; he fundamentally altered our perspectives on both the terrestrial and celestial realms. At the core of his legacy is the formulation of the world's most renowned equation and the unveiling of the theory of relativity, widely regarded as humanity's paramount intellectual revelation.
His work not only revolutionized our understanding of the physical universe but also transformed the way we navigate and comprehend the vastness of the cosmos. Einstein's intellectual prowess transcends the boundaries of his era, making him a guiding beacon in the annals of scientific history.
Fun fact: At the age of 15, Einstein left school because his teachers didn’t approve of visual imagination for learning, skills which became fundamental to his way of thinking.
Einstein knew creativity could transcend the boundaries between music and physics. When we step away from routine thinking and make space for creativity, amazing new connections emerge. The same holds for teaching. Educators often feel tethered to standardized curriculums, stripped of creative freedom. But what if technology helped them innovate despite constraints?
In this article, I'll use Einstein as a metaphor for the ceaseless ingenuity or creativity within all teachers. Taking Einstein for a walk symbolizes providing educators space to imagine and create freely. Too often, we focus narrowly on enhancing student creativity. But creative teachers are the catalysts who can unlock creativity for all. I aim to show how technology can help set teachers' inner Einsteins free.
But why though?
Fostering creativity is not just an option for innovative teachers - it's a pedagogical imperative. Research shows creativity has immense benefits for student motivation, retention, and higher-order skills.
Teachers spark curiosity in learners when they take creative risks and design imaginative lessons. Students become intrinsically motivated to discover and make connections, driving deeper engagement. This motivation is crucial, especially in topics students may see as 'boring' or 'irrelevant' otherwise. Creativity breathes new life into learning.
Creative teaching strategies lead to better knowledge retention over time. Students forget rote memorization and standardized test prep - but they'll recall creative experiences like building models, creating art projects, and role-playing simulations long after the unit ends.
Creativity also builds the critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills that are essential for student success beyond the classroom. As opposed to passively absorbing information, creative learning is active, student-driven, and socially constructed.
“85% of teachers who focus on creativity in learning and use technology in transformative ways say they often see their students engaging in problem-solving. This drops to 75% among teachers who foster classroom creativity but use technology in more substitutional ways (replacing paper and pencil with tablets or computers to do the same tasks) and to 50% among teachers who maximize neither creativity nor transformative technology in the classroom”, says this study.
Creativity separates engaged learning from robotic regurgitation. It empowers students to take ownership of their education and develop capacities to apply knowledge in real-world contexts. Unlocking creativity allows any teacher to move from transmitting information to transforming lives.
I think the costs of letting creativity fade are simply too high, both for students and teachers themselves.
But how though?
I would like to establish that creativity is a deeply personal and subjective skill - there's no universal standard for what it means or how it manifests. I also think creativity must not necessarily be ‘extraordinary’. It can simply be ‘out of the ordinary’. With this mindset, we can nurture our creative sparks without dismissing ideas that seem too small or incremental. Even a little originality can ignite powerful learning.
This freedom is especially important for teachers, who often feel constrained by standardized curriculums that allow little room for creative lessons. Yet by embracing creativity on their terms, educators can bring fresh approaches into any classroom.
The path to innovation rarely follows a straight line.
That said, here are 3 ways teachers can boost their creativity and some edtech tools to help them.
1. The Power of Play
“Combinatory play seems to be the essential feature in productive thought.” - Albert Einstein
This insight holds intriguing possibilities for empowering teachers' creativity. Einstein himself took a break from studying to play the violin and piano which helped him come up with more creative ideas.
Educators can rediscover the joy of imaginative 'what if' thinking by incorporating more playfulness into lesson planning. They can reframe curriculum content in engaging new ways. Even a simple exercise like remixing classic story plots can get creative juices flowing.
The right technology tools can facilitate this exploratory process. Virtual reality platforms like VRChat allow teachers to prototyper immersive learning games and simulations. Digital design platforms like Canva provide easy templates for reimagining classroom visuals or making interactive worksheets.
But directed play has its place too. Teachers should set expectations, provide guardrails, and circulate to answer questions. But within structured environments, play unlocks experimentation. It invites both teachers and students to tinker and take risks without fear of failure.
A little bit of fun can go a long way towards sparking imagination and innovation in any classroom.
2. A Polymathic approach to life
“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.” -Steve Jobs
Many of history's most groundbreaking innovators like Leonardo da Vinci and Steve Jobs took a polymathic approach to creativity - they explored diverse fields and made connections between ideas that seemed unrelated. As Steve Jobs put it, creative people can 'just see something' that bridges concepts in an obvious new way.
I talked about why we should all be polymaths in this article. Teachers can adopt this polymathic mindset to unlock their own creativity. They should seek inspiration broadly - not just from education, but from art, business, technology and life. A biology teacher could find creative ways to apply engineering design principles in their lessons. A history teacher could use theatrical storytelling techniques to bring historical figures to life.
Consuming diverse content is key. Tools like podcast apps and MOOCs(Massive Open Online Courses) allow teachers to expose themselves to creative thinkers and learners worldwide. Following creators in different mediums can spark new pedagogical ideas. The broader the inputs, the more potential for innovative outputs.
Note that not every outside idea will work in the classroom. But by stepping outside their comfort zone and blending different disciplines, teachers can gain fresh perspectives that inspire creative teaching. Once we expand our horizons, connecting the dots can seem obvious in hindsight. But new dots are there for the taking.
3. Imagine Dragons
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” -Albert Einstein
To be effectively creative, we must be able to imagine dragons. No pun intended. To think originally, we must see the world not just as it is, but as it could be. We must imagine 'dragons' - scenarios that reinvent and reimagine reality.
Teachers can harness this power of imagination to unlock creative classroom approaches. Simple 'what if' thinking can uncover original ideas. What if students assumed the roles of historical figures and debated? What if algebra concepts were taught through digital music remixing? What if students published imaginative stories integrating their science learning?
The only limits are our own openness to unconventional possibilities. Edtech tools like digital animation and art tools like Sketchpad, FlipAnim, and SketchUp, worldbuilding games(Minecraft, Roblox, Civilization), and VR platforms like Mozilla Hubs provide fertile ground for bringing imaginative projects to life. Students can deepen learning by designing their own futuristic societies, narrating nature documentaries, or artistically expressing concepts visually. FlipAnim in particular can be used to make simple and beautiful fliparts like this one.
Of course, teachers should set expectations and provide support. But within loose parameters, imagining dragons empowers students to take ownership and direct their learning journey in creative directions. Engagement and educational outcomes can reach new heights when imaginative freedom combines with classroom rigour.
Knowledge is finite, but imagination is infinite. When teachers dare to ask 'what if?', subsequently guiding students to explore and express, creativity becomes the rocket fuel for student achievement.
In a nutshell
Creativity is not a destination, but an ongoing mindset. Educators must make time for daily creative play and exploration just as Einstein never stopped questioning assumptions or seeking new inspirations.
Teaching at its heart is an immensely creative act. We must reject narratives that frame technology and creativity as opposing forces in education. Instead, let us write a new story - one where innovation is not the exception but the norm across classrooms. Where every teacher feels empowered to unlock their inner Einstein.
This charge extends beyond just teachers. Policymakers must provide funding for creativity development and edtech integration. Administrators must give teachers space to innovate and take risks. Edtech developers must design thoughtful tools aligned with creative pedagogy. Students must embrace learning as a creative adventure, not a passive exercise.
This begins by giving ourselves permission to take creativity off its leash. Only by stepping off well-worn paths can we discover new vistas of possibility.
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Bechem, I forwarded your article to a retired professor in Arizona, here is his response:
Great article. He includes the basic tenants that all good instructional designers should be building into courses and curriculum. Effectively incorporating learning styles insures that the learner regardless of individual style will have a higher success rate in the learning process. A large percentage of online learning is crap and poorly designed. It's not only technology put how it is designed and used.
Bechem, a great article… again. My takeaway was summed in your closing challenge. Now it is up to the parents and our communities to elect only those who support teacher creativity. Unionists, politicians, and sluggards sap the creative juices from those teachers who can make a difference.
BTW, congrats on your new consulting contract. Sounds exciting. At some point your readership might enjoy reading a case study.