Sir Ken: Killing Creativity in Schools

This is one of my favorite TED talks. Why? Because it was my first. And fittingly my last TED post.

I am going to comment on some favorite quotes:

He states that: 'Everyone has an interest in education...Education goes deep with people... teachers educate them [students] for the future that no one knows.'

True words my friend, true words. 

'Children have unpredictability.' And children have a great capacity for learning in that unpredictability.

This reminded me of Kindergarteners, specifically the Kindergarteners of Ms. Halshaw-Wade. She is a classmate of mine who is exploring Kindergartners as scientists in her action research. For her more thoughtful description of her action research, her main question, research design and all things Tori please visit her Action Research page on her other website. Anyway, today we were discussing the progress she has made in her research, some findings and next steps. Then she asked me...'well Leyva, seriously, what do you think of my research?' I replied 'it's awesome!' I explained that to me her research exposed the scientific process in several forms to her students who may not have had the explicit experience with the scientific process before. They are learning about how cool science and testing and predictions can be! And at such a young age!
Often students are not as engaged in science as they could be because their curiosity has been stifled along the way. Science to some students is just memorizing new facts and trying to pass tests. Labs are the part that are fun. Not always necessarily educational and true application of their knowledge or true inquiry learning. They should truly want to know what is next and find out what new knowledge they can acquire through learning.

'Creativity is important in education.'

'Kids will take a chance. If they don't know they will have a goal.'
Taking risks: This was a topic of discussion throughout the Project Based Learning training I mentioned in an earlier post. As a staff we want our students to graduate from high school with the ability and drive to take risks and not be afraid to fail. Through failure we learn so much more emotionally and intellectually.

Then he stated. 'If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original.' 'The result is that we are educating people out of their creative capacities.'

What is the point of reinforcing facts if they see no purpose or new. How can that inspire them? 

'What is education for? What is the output?..To produce university professors'

This is a thought I have had more than once. In college I was always told to explore more and learn more in graduate school. Do research and go to grad school etc. I feel like the real life application of the material was present but only in application to research. Forever be a learner. A great thought but what about using my knowledge for something else. Teaching should be about exposing students to the real life application and helping them get there. The school I will be teaching at next year aims to have students graduate with lab tech certifications or one day EMT certifications (both through a local college) etc.

'Degrees aren't worth anything.' It is a process of 'academic inflation.'

Agreed. I know so many people in my generation are looking for jobs that don't exist for them or are unfitting (for a variety of reasons). If education was designed to meet the needs of industry how is this so? Shouldn't someone with a college degree be ready to get a job? I was talking with a man on a plane on my way home from Reno (volleyball tournament) and he told me about his engineering company and the people he hires. He said that work ethic and the intelligence (and ability) to adapt and learn new things was what he looked for. Degrees were required but more importantly the people he hires have to be able to think. He left telling me to be hard on my students they need it.

Education is 'Based on academic ability.' The view of intelligence is limited and biased towards university interests.

I was talking with my players this weekend about applying to colleges. Many of them are so worried that they won't get in with their SAT scores (the SAT was this past weekend) or GPA's. This is disappointing. I tell them that they will end up at the college that is right for them but they don't see it in sight yet. I know these girls. They are intelligent and have strong GPA's, SAT's and academic ability. But they also have a wide variety of interests. I truly do know they will be ok. But I am curious what university or college will deem them right for their school.

He ended with 'Use the gift of human imagination wisely. Promote the creative capacity for richness it is. See children for hope they are. Help them make something of the future.'
Inspiring.