As a geometry teacher, I have the luxury of including many elements of project learning opportunities that involve elements of creativity. Students in my classes will create posters expressing their ideas in a creative manner.
In the past, students have created their own city map using parallel lines, transversals, and angles. They have created floor plans of their "dream home" in which they must know square footage and fit carpeting into a given budget. In our unit on transformations, I introduce the students to artist M. C. Escher and students are tasked with designing their own tessellation using the different types of transformations.
I believe it is important for students to express their creativity in a constructive manner. Creativity is an element of intelligence that is not tapped into as regularly as it should be in the field of education. With high stakes testing and greater focus on teaching to the standards or teaching to the tests, we are losing creativity in this nation.
When creators create the newest technology, such as a new fuel efficient vehicle or a new tablet or mobile device, they must tap into this highest level of intelligence. When new models of cars or phones come out to the market with very little improvement off of a previous model, how are Americans going to get excited enough about these new products and, more importantly, how are they going to see the new and better value to increase the usefulness of these things in their lives?
Creativity must be something that we teach in our classrooms today. It is essential that students are pushed to their fullest potential. There is no exception for a student to say that they have "no creativity." Students have creativity and we, as teachers, must inspire them and guide them to tap into this creativity. Provide outlets (projects, for instance) to express their creativity. Show them what creativity looks like and how it can benefit their lives and the world around them.
In the past, students have created their own city map using parallel lines, transversals, and angles. They have created floor plans of their "dream home" in which they must know square footage and fit carpeting into a given budget. In our unit on transformations, I introduce the students to artist M. C. Escher and students are tasked with designing their own tessellation using the different types of transformations.
I believe it is important for students to express their creativity in a constructive manner. Creativity is an element of intelligence that is not tapped into as regularly as it should be in the field of education. With high stakes testing and greater focus on teaching to the standards or teaching to the tests, we are losing creativity in this nation.
When creators create the newest technology, such as a new fuel efficient vehicle or a new tablet or mobile device, they must tap into this highest level of intelligence. When new models of cars or phones come out to the market with very little improvement off of a previous model, how are Americans going to get excited enough about these new products and, more importantly, how are they going to see the new and better value to increase the usefulness of these things in their lives?
Creativity must be something that we teach in our classrooms today. It is essential that students are pushed to their fullest potential. There is no exception for a student to say that they have "no creativity." Students have creativity and we, as teachers, must inspire them and guide them to tap into this creativity. Provide outlets (projects, for instance) to express their creativity. Show them what creativity looks like and how it can benefit their lives and the world around them.