How can you teach creative thinking skills?

1 Define creativity

Before you can teach creative thinking skills, you need to define what creativity means and why it is important. Creativity is not just about artistic expression or talent. It is a way of thinking that involves curiosity, imagination, experimentation, and reflection. Creativity can be applied to any subject, discipline, or context. It can help students learn better, improve their academic performance, and prepare them for future challenges. You can explain these benefits to your students and show them examples of creative thinkers in different fields and domains.

2 Encourage divergent thinking

Divergent thinking is the ability to generate many different possible solutions or responses to a problem or a question. It is a key component of creative thinking skills, as it allows students to explore multiple perspectives and possibilities. You can encourage divergent thinking by asking open-ended questions, providing prompts or stimuli, and challenging assumptions or rules. For example, you can ask your students to brainstorm as many uses as they can for a common object, such as a paper clip or a shoe. You can also ask them to come up with alternative endings or scenarios for a story or a situation.

3 Promote collaboration

Collaboration is another important aspect of creative thinking skills, as it enables students to share their ideas, learn from each other, and build on each other's contributions. You can promote collaboration by creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel comfortable to express their opinions, ask questions, and give feedback. You can also use cooperative learning strategies, such as group projects, peer review, or jigsaw, where students work together to complete a task or learn a topic. You can also encourage students to use online tools, such as blogs, wikis, or podcasts, to communicate and collaborate with their peers or other audiences.

4 Integrate technology

Technology can be a powerful tool to enhance creative thinking skills, as it offers students access to a variety of information, resources, and tools. You can integrate technology into your teaching by using digital media, such as videos, images, or audio, to stimulate students' interest and curiosity. You can also use online platforms, such as Google Classroom, Padlet, or Flipgrid, to create and share assignments, activities, or discussions. You can also use apps, such as Scratch, Canva, or GarageBand, to allow students to create their own products, such as games, posters, or music.

5 Model creativity

One of the best ways to teach creative thinking skills is to model them yourself. You can show your students how you approach a problem or a question, how you generate and evaluate ideas, and how you reflect on your process and outcomes. You can also share your own challenges, failures, and successes, and how you learn from them. By doing so, you can demonstrate that creativity is not a fixed trait or a gift, but a skill that can be developed and improved. You can also inspire your students to follow your example and adopt a growth mindset and a positive attitude towards creativity.

6 Assess creativity

Finally, you need to assess your students' creative thinking skills and provide them with feedback and recognition. You can use formative and summative assessment methods, such as rubrics, portfolios, or self-assessment, to measure your students' progress and achievements. You can also use criteria, such as fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration, to evaluate your students' ideas and products. You can also give your students constructive and specific feedback, such as praise, suggestions, or questions, to help them improve their creative thinking skills. You can also celebrate your students' creativity by displaying their work, sharing their stories, or rewarding their efforts.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?