Let's talk about creativity in our classrooms. In today's fast-moving world, helping our students think creatively isn't just a nice-to-have - it's essential. As Li et al. (2022) point out, creativity is now seen as a vital skill that helps students handle change and tackle unexpected challenges.
Contents
- Why do creative learning environments matter?
- Essential ingredients for a creative classroom
- Putting creativity into practice
- Ten practical ideas for fostering creativity in your classroom
- Making the most of core tools
Why do creative learning environments matter?
The evidence is clear: when we create spaces that encourage creativity, our students thrive. Davies et al. (2013) found something really interesting - when they looked at thoughtfully designed creative spaces and approaches, they saw better academic results, especially among students who typically struggled. But it's not just about grades - these environments also helped boost student engagement, emotional growth, and confidence.
Essential ingredients for a creative classroom
Drawing from research by Davies et al. (2013) and Li et al. (2022), here are the key elements that make creativity flourish:
- Flexible spaces and schedules that let students work at their own pace
- The right mix of digital and specialist tools to support learning
- Opportunities to learn beyond classroom walls
- A balanced approach between structure and creative freedom
- Interactive digital spaces for collaboration and idea-sharing
- Tools that help students express and develop their original ideas
Putting creativity into practice
Here's how we can make this happen in our classrooms:
- Build trust through open dialogue with our students (Davies et al., 2013)
- Model risk-taking and innovative approaches in our teaching
- Encourage both in-person and online collaboration
- Stay flexible with planning and follow student interests
- Choose technology thoughtfully to develop creative skills (Li et al., 2022)
When we create these supportive environments for creativity, we're not just fostering innovative thinking - we're supporting our students' academic success and personal growth too.
Ten practical ideas for fostering creativity in your classroom
Here are some practical ideas you can try in your classroom tomorrow. Drawing from our team's experiences and the research discussed above, these strategies are both impactful and straightforward to put into practice.
1. Digital gallery walks
Get your students showcasing their work through virtual exhibitions on Padlet, Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams. It's a brilliant way to share peer feedback - students can leave thoughtful comments using digital sticky notes via Padlet, and it gets them engaged in each other's learning.
2. Think-pair-share 2.0
We all know and love think-pair-share, but tools like Slido or Mentimeter give it new life. Students respond to thought-provoking prompts individually, chat in pairs, then share their thoughts through interactive word clouds or responses. The visual element really brings it alive!
3. Problem-solving stations
Set up 'innovation stations' where students tackle real-world challenges linked to your subject. Pear Deck or NearPod are brilliant for brainstorming, and Google Jamboard works a treat for collaborative mind mapping.
4. Learning portfolios
Have your students create digital portfolios using Seesaw or Google Classroom. They can document their creative journey, reflect on their learning, and share their progress. Parents love seeing these too!
5. Flipped learning with a creative twist
Rather than just watching videos, get your students making them! Using something like Screencast-o-matic or Loom, they can create explainer videos for their peers. It's amazing how much they learn when they have to teach others.
6. Cross-curricular projects
Plan themed projects that bridge different subjects. For example, combining art, design & technology, geography, science and maths to design sustainable buildings. Year 9s particularly love this one, and it's brilliant for showing how subjects connect in the real world.
7. Visual storytelling
Tools like Storyboard That or good old Google Drawings are brilliant for helping students map out everything from creative writing to scientific processes. Perfect for your visual learners!
8. Structured sharing circles
Create a supportive environment where small groups can share work-in-progress. Other students observe and offer kind, constructive feedback through digital forms. It's all about building that confidence.
9. Choice in assessment
Give students options for showing their learning - they might fancy creating a podcast, designing digital art, or giving an interactive presentation. Quizlet's brilliant for helping them revise in their own way too.
10. Exploration sessions
Pop aside a bit of time each week for students to explore subject-related interests in their own way. It's amazing what they come up with when given the freedom to be creative!
Remember, these ideas are just starting points - you can adapt them to suit your subject area and students' needs. The key is to maintain a balance between structure and creative freedom, while using technology purposefully to enhance learning rather than just for its own sake.
Making the most of core tools
Whilst the ideas above are exciting, it's worth acknowledging that managing multiple digital tools can be overwhelming, especially given the time and budget constraints that many teachers face. Let's look at how we can streamline our approach by focusing on a few versatile platforms:
Google Workspace for Education
For Google schools, this toolkit offers:
- Google Jamboard for collaborative brainstorming
- Google Sites for portfolios and showcases
- Google Classroom for assignments and assessment
- Google Forms for feedback and reflection
Microsoft Teams/Office 365
For Microsoft schools, key features include:
- OneNote Class Notebooks for portfolios
- Flipgrid for video sharing
- Forms and Whiteboard for interactive work
Essential free tools
Beyond your school's platform, consider:
- Padlet: Versatile platform for gallery walks and collaboration (three free walls)
- Mentimeter: Ideal for gathering student input and discussions
Focus on mastering a few key tools rather than trying to use everything. Start with your school's main platform and build from there. Creating reusable templates will save time and help students become familiar with the tools.
References
- Davies, D., Jindal-Snape, D., Collier, C., Digby, R., Hay, P., & Howe, A. (2013). Creative learning environments in education—A systematic literature review. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 8, 80-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2012.07.004
- Li, Y., Kim, M., & Palkar, J. (2022). Using emerging technologies to promote creativity in education: A systematic review. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 3, 100177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100177
