Sir Ken has got me in a bit of a state. In his book "The Element", which I am currently reading, Robinson claims
that we are all creative in our own way, just as we are all intelligent in our own way. I'm having real trouble identifying where my creativity is hiding. It's not that I have a low self-esteem; it's just that the way I work seems to be anti-creative. I hate getting things wrong. My Year 1 Teacher turned me off art forever when she got angry at me for colouring in the wrong way when I was decorating my Mothers' Day card. When travelling, I thoroughly research things to see and do, and plan out an itinerary which I generally stick to faithfully. I follow recipes to the letter, much to my husband's amusement and, at times, frustration. I have only been proud of 3 artworks that I have created in my entire life, and all three have been when I have copied the art teacher step-by-step. I would like to think of myself as an excellent mother, but any craft or art activities, music, or sporting activities I do with my children have been taken from Playschool, Mister Maker or Facebook. I am the dad out of the Lego Movie, who builds the Lego according to the instructions and won't let the kid dissemble the project to make his own creations. (I actually came out of that movie feeling ashamed. Sir Ken - you'd like the film's message...) In High School I excelled in Drama, but quit when I forgot the words in an exam. I gave up singing when I stuffed up a line in a song and repeated the wrong verse at my Year 12 Graduation, and I quit dancing when I found it difficult to remember choreography in the end of year concert. (I'm glad I've moved on from those fixed mindset days, but am perhaps identifying a persistent memory deficit?!)
Apparently I used to have creativity... I found a couple of stories I wrote when I was much younger that, if it wasn't for the fact they were in my handwriting, I never would have believed I had written... Where did I come up with those amazing and imaginative storylines? The other day I wrote an impassioned letter to someone who I disagreed with, but all of the ideas that I used in my argument had come from other, more knowledgeable people who I referenced accordingly. I loved doing my Masters at uni, but couldn't imagine doing my Doctorate as I can't even think of a question to explore, let alone research it and come up with new thoughts and ideas about the topic. In discussions I faithfully sit and listen to everyone else's ideas and suggestions before making a considered and informed response.
I am currently spending hours researching how to incorporate technology more effectively into my
classroom, which is one of my passions. I share this knowledge with others, and take courses voluntarily to increase my understanding, but... none of it is my own thinking. I love getting new ideas to implement, but I try to do them exactly as described to avoid failure. I hear of something another teacher has done and I think, Yes! That will work in my class! and I get to work to implement it.
I wish I was creative, but I just can't see it. I am intelligent, and passionate, and I demonstrate perseverance
and patience. I'm analytical and logical. I know my strengths and can identify areas of weakness, and have always acknowledged that one of these areas was creativity. So, is it possible that after years of claiming I'm not at all
creative, that Sir Ken Robinson is now suggesting that I may be after all?
Is this how kids feel when I stand in class and tell them in a well-meaning, encouraging manner that they are all
intelligent in their own way? Is 'intelligence' so firmly ingrained in their minds as 'academia', just as 'creativity' is so firmly ingrained in my mind as - what? being artsy, thinking outside the box, risk-taking? - that I can never see
myself in that category? I'm clinging onto Robinson's assertion that creativity, like intelligence, is not a fixed trait. In any case, I'm only halfway through Chapter 3 so I'm hoping I'll discover my creativity within days ;) Stay tuned...
"Imagination is the preview of life's coming attractions." Albert Einstein
that we are all creative in our own way, just as we are all intelligent in our own way. I'm having real trouble identifying where my creativity is hiding. It's not that I have a low self-esteem; it's just that the way I work seems to be anti-creative. I hate getting things wrong. My Year 1 Teacher turned me off art forever when she got angry at me for colouring in the wrong way when I was decorating my Mothers' Day card. When travelling, I thoroughly research things to see and do, and plan out an itinerary which I generally stick to faithfully. I follow recipes to the letter, much to my husband's amusement and, at times, frustration. I have only been proud of 3 artworks that I have created in my entire life, and all three have been when I have copied the art teacher step-by-step. I would like to think of myself as an excellent mother, but any craft or art activities, music, or sporting activities I do with my children have been taken from Playschool, Mister Maker or Facebook. I am the dad out of the Lego Movie, who builds the Lego according to the instructions and won't let the kid dissemble the project to make his own creations. (I actually came out of that movie feeling ashamed. Sir Ken - you'd like the film's message...) In High School I excelled in Drama, but quit when I forgot the words in an exam. I gave up singing when I stuffed up a line in a song and repeated the wrong verse at my Year 12 Graduation, and I quit dancing when I found it difficult to remember choreography in the end of year concert. (I'm glad I've moved on from those fixed mindset days, but am perhaps identifying a persistent memory deficit?!)
Apparently I used to have creativity... I found a couple of stories I wrote when I was much younger that, if it wasn't for the fact they were in my handwriting, I never would have believed I had written... Where did I come up with those amazing and imaginative storylines? The other day I wrote an impassioned letter to someone who I disagreed with, but all of the ideas that I used in my argument had come from other, more knowledgeable people who I referenced accordingly. I loved doing my Masters at uni, but couldn't imagine doing my Doctorate as I can't even think of a question to explore, let alone research it and come up with new thoughts and ideas about the topic. In discussions I faithfully sit and listen to everyone else's ideas and suggestions before making a considered and informed response.
I am currently spending hours researching how to incorporate technology more effectively into my
classroom, which is one of my passions. I share this knowledge with others, and take courses voluntarily to increase my understanding, but... none of it is my own thinking. I love getting new ideas to implement, but I try to do them exactly as described to avoid failure. I hear of something another teacher has done and I think, Yes! That will work in my class! and I get to work to implement it.
I wish I was creative, but I just can't see it. I am intelligent, and passionate, and I demonstrate perseverance
and patience. I'm analytical and logical. I know my strengths and can identify areas of weakness, and have always acknowledged that one of these areas was creativity. So, is it possible that after years of claiming I'm not at all
creative, that Sir Ken Robinson is now suggesting that I may be after all?
Is this how kids feel when I stand in class and tell them in a well-meaning, encouraging manner that they are all
intelligent in their own way? Is 'intelligence' so firmly ingrained in their minds as 'academia', just as 'creativity' is so firmly ingrained in my mind as - what? being artsy, thinking outside the box, risk-taking? - that I can never see
myself in that category? I'm clinging onto Robinson's assertion that creativity, like intelligence, is not a fixed trait. In any case, I'm only halfway through Chapter 3 so I'm hoping I'll discover my creativity within days ;) Stay tuned...
"Imagination is the preview of life's coming attractions." Albert Einstein
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