Here's how you can foster creative thinking and risk-taking in students.

As a teacher since 1993, I've always sought to empower students & take the holistic approach. To extend their world beyond the confines of a course book & their classroom. It can be a challenge, especially in Asia, where critical thinking is not always pursued or encouraged. Rote learning, no questions asked, heads down & listen to the teacher. There are many ways to employ-open ended questions, break students up into brainstorming groups working on a topic for presentation. I use lots of handouts, which require answers to various prompts & opinions. Set tasks & assignments where they need to explore other countries & find out facts about culture, different societies, places etc. Alway try to ignite curiousity & that desire to know more!

Creative thinking is one of the most required skills people need to develop nowadays - and so in the future. The thing with creativity is, like other abilities, we might have and enhance, it needs to be fostered, stimulated, and teased. Teachers encounter many opportunities to promote creativity in basic education settings during their classes. Plus, we might also take advantage of innate students' curiosity. They want to discover new things and have multiple chances to explore and experiment, so we support them through this genuine openness, by transforming some engagements into problem-solving activities, expanding topics they are more interested in further researching - or even a middle-term project if it's possible.

Nurture curiosity and encourage students to explore new ideas and perspectives to foster creativity and risk taking among students. Stimulate curiosity by asking open ended questions and also motivating them to ask questions. Celebrate and appreciate their inquisitiveness. Provide platforms for independent research and experiential Learning. By thinking out of the box and trying various methods and solutions, they become creative, and versatile with enhanced risk taking skills.

?? That's my jam! By encouraging curiosity in the classroom, I'm basically planting the seeds of imagination and innovation. ??? Whether it's through thought-provoking questions, hands-on experiments, or fun projects, I create an environment where it's okay to ask "why" and "what if." ???? I celebrate every idea, no matter how out-of-the-box it may seem, and encourage my students to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them. Because let's face it, the best discoveries often come from a little curiosity and a lot of courage! ???? #CuriosityIsKey

helping students be curious in the classroom is one of the best ways to ensure that they find long-term success as learners, but also that they lay a solid foundation to build creativity. In my classes, after I share an idea or concept I will often lead by asking some open-ended questions to my students, I want them to be able to think about the scenario and be able to answer the questions with the right mindset. When they do answer I never respond with right or wrong, it's always something like "great idea, can we expand on that a bit". Trying to push them a bit deeper into critical thinking and creativity.

For a student to be successful outside the classroom, he/she must be motivated to take risks inside the classroom hence, it should be a haven for them. If not, a student won't have a safe place to make mistakes and learn from them which would surely affect the learning process.

To foster creative thinking and risk taking in students create a classroom culture where they feel safe and comfortable to explore new ideas and perspectives. -provide ample opportunities for experimentation - appreciate efforts irrespective of the results -avoid negative comments and being judgemental -emphasis that failures are part of the learning process -provide guidance and support, so that they keep working for betterment.

Absolutely agree with the importance of safe places! I would add that establishing relationships with students helps in that regard. Then, when you set and model high expectations, they trust you and will work with you. That’s where the magic happens.

Encouraging pupils to be brave & show resilience. Have a motto of "no idea is a bad idea shared". Teachers can give examples of entrepreneurs & there is a huge rise of "influencers" / TikTokers who have launched successful business ideas through social media platforms. We all learn through our mistakes & if pupils have a "soft landing" in your classroom, they are likely to be bold in creative thinking.

I do a lot of private tutoring with school-age kids. Early on, when we're just getting to know each other, I've found that kids are hesitant about making mistakes. I reassure them but it doesn't always lower their stress. I like to use humor a lot. So I joke that they have nothing to worry about. All that happens when they make a mistake is I call my dog over to bite them. They know that's silly because my dog might lick them silly but she'd never bite. It makes them laugh, which automatically lowers their stress.

Get to know your students in order to be capable of listing what topics and situations are common for them. Once you know who and where they are in terms of knowledge of the world and their local and global issues, you can surprise them with exquisite scenarios described which will demand them more efforts to comprehend the constitutive aspects of that issue and push them into new ways of thinking and acting.

Teaching students how to think about a problem is far more important than teaching them the right answer. Having them be able. to get from problem to solution on their own is the best way to build a foundation of critical thinking and creativity. Teach your students how to ask questions about problems or situations and different ways to problem-solve an issue. Give them tools for critical thinking and problem-solving and let them work with those.

- Incorporate diverse literature, multimedia resources, and guest speakers to expose students to a variety of cultural, historical, and societal perspectives. - Provide opportunities for students to engage in respectful dialogue and debate, encouraging them to articulate and defend their viewpoints while also listening actively to others. - Scaffold collaboration by teaching communication and teamwork skills, such as active listening, conflict resolution, and consensus-building. - Emphasize the importance of empathy and understanding in appreciating diverse perspectives, fostering a culture of inclusivity and mutual respect. - Reflect on the collaborative process with students, discussing what worked well and areas for improvement

To cultivate diverse thinking, it's essential to expose students to a variety of perspectives and problem-solving methods. By engaging them in collaborative projects that bring together individuals with diverse strengths and interests, we create opportunities for rich discussions and innovative solutions. Encouraging students to explore multiple approaches and brainstorm various solutions fosters an appreciation for different viewpoints and demonstrates the strength of collective creativity. This approach not only enhances their critical thinking skills but also prepares them to navigate real-world challenges where diverse perspectives are invaluable.

To be able to relate to what one learns inside a classroom is highly delightful. When a student realizes, that what he/she learns can be of actual use and could be tested at home it motivates them to absorb better. When I teach students the Freytag's Pyramid, I initially show them a short movie and then introduce the concept and make them relate to it.

There's nothing more meaningful than being immersed in actions to solve a problem that affects you and/or the people around you. Mostly with middle years students, but also with the younger ones, we can set open conversations to become aware of their current issues, concerns, and other embarrassing moments that might be part of a common effort to solve, or at least alleviate somehow. Take their realities into consideration when planning these moments and you'll for sure see them at a new level of engagement and commitment.

- Encourage students to conduct research and gather data from credible sources to inform their problem-solving process, promoting critical thinking and information literacy skills. - Provide guidance and support as students navigate the complexities of real-world problems, helping them break down complex issues into manageable components. - Foster a growth mindset by emphasizing that failure is a natural part of the learning process and that setbacks should be viewed as opportunities for growth and improvement. - Showcase examples of real-world problem-solving successes to inspire and motivate students, demonstrating the impact of their efforts beyond the classroom. - Foster a sense of agency by empowering students to take action on issues

Incorporating real-world problems into teaching ignites creativity and risk-taking in students. Connecting learning to practical situations boosts motivation and innovation. Assigning projects addressing current issues fosters responsibility and urgency in their work, enhancing their learning experience.

Incorporating real-world problems into teaching fosters practical application of knowledge and skills, preparing students for life beyond the classroom. By engaging with authentic challenges, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills essential for success in diverse contexts. Moreover, addressing real-world issues instills a sense of purpose and social responsibility, empowering students to make meaningful contributions to society.

- Provide structured prompts or guiding questions to scaffold the reflection process, helping students delve deeper into their experiences and insights. - Incorporate opportunities for peer feedback and discussion, allowing students to gain different perspectives and learn from each other's experiences. - Model reflective practices yourself as an educator, sharing your own successes, failures, and lessons learned with students to demonstrate its importance. - Encourage students to set goals based on their reflections and create action plans to implement positive changes in their learning and behavior. - Emphasize the importance of self-awareness and metacognition in reflective practice, helping students develop a deeper understanding...

Are your students struggling to find a solution for a task you addressed them with? Give them tips, and clues, show them a reference, and paths, but do not hold their hands and just start doing what they have to do by yourself, either because it's easier or faster. Learning requires time and cognitive discomfort. Let them come up with new strategies, new resources, with other references. Encourage them to make their own connections among everything you are working on. The more students are active in their learning journeys, the more acquainted with everything you are proposing to learn they are.

When you give students an assignment give them some latitude to make choices and pursue topics that they find interesting. This autonomy in their learning will give them the freedom to explore topics and the willingness to explore issues further and more creatively. In many ways, this gives students a sense of ownership over their own learning and will lead to much more engagement with the work overall.

I want to add one more perspective related to this valuable discussion Be a role model : by taking risks in your own teaching and demonstrating a willingness to try new approaches and learn from mistakes.

-Incite an inquisitive culture -Endorse autonomous mode of action -Create a secure environment! Across it, aim to try & err -Never ask the learner to do something you wouldn’t do -Lead by example -Incorporate (PBL) mandates – they trigger innovation, foster critical thinking & enable hands-on experience -Break complex issues into SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic & Time Bound) tasks -Offer personalized support & guidance -Celebrate success stories (even the smallest ones) yet possess sense of ownership & be ready for accountability -Nurture self-reflection/reflexivity –such actions anchor all relevant stakeholders -It’s the journey not the destination –enjoy the process No Risk, No Story! Trailblaze, Communicate & Lead ???

Creative thinking and risk-taking are different skills that can be honed separately or together. Since creative thinking can lead to risk-taking and vice-versa, we can therefore approach them from either end. For example, creative thinking can lead to novel and unconventional ideas that require risk-taking to implement, while risk-taking can lead to creative thinking by forcing students to think outside the box and find new solutions to unexpected challenges. Both approaches can be led by teachers by encouraging exploration, providing opportunities for experimentation, and facilitating reflection. It is important to consider that gender differences, group versus individual dynamics, and cultural perceptions have an impact on risk-taking.