What do you do if student engagement in higher education is lacking and you want to boost creativity?

Incorporate active learning strategies. Actively participate in the learning process increases engagement. Connect course material to real-world problems. Foster a classroom environment that values curiosity. Offer students flexibility in their assignments. Promote collaborative learning experiences where students work together Provide feedback on students' work and encourage self-reflection. Integrate technology tools and platforms that facilitate interactive learning experiences Cultivate a classroom culture that values risk-taking Invite guest speakers from industry to share their expertise Design assessments that focus on measuring students' understanding and application

To boost creativity and student engagement in higher education I: Foster a supportive environment: Encourage open communication, risk-taking, and experimentation. Incorporate active learning strategies: Introduce problem-based learning, case studies, and group projects to promote collaboration and critical thinking. Offer choice and autonomy: Provide opportunities for students to explore topics of interest and pursue projects aligned with their passions. Integrate multimedia and technology: Utilise interactive tools, virtual simulations, and digital storytelling to enhance engagement and creativity. Encourage reflection and iteration: Emphasise the importance of feedback, iteration, and continuous improvement in the creative process.

Case studies and debates are welcome. You have to prepare your students to do that, but at the outcome is often rewarding. Besides they are forced to use their brain, question their knowledge, show connections with their own experience. Even the flipped classroom prevents them from falling asleep on their desks...

Students engagement is germane in learning because teaching is a two-way process. So if students’ engagement is lacking, it is important to add some fun into it. Ensure you do something that will spark their interest. Imagineering, Gamification may be useful in this regard. Teachers should not come to class and do all the talking, let there be activities that will generate ideas from the students and will keep them engaged. Sometimes, a video clip that aligns with the topic being taught can be very useful. After watching the video, let students discuss its implications. You will marvel at how creative and engaging they can be.

While leaderboards and rewards systems can be beneficial, educators should note that they can create a sense of competition among students, which may demotivate those who consistently rank lower or fail to earn as many rewards. This can lead to feelings of inequality and discouragement, particularly for students who may already struggle with academic tasks. Instead focus on recognizing effort, improvement, and resilience rather than solely on ranking students. Encourage a growth mindset by framing challenges as opportunities for learning and development.

In my view, as an instructor, demonstrate creative thinking by modeling it yourself. Share your own thought processes and illustrate examples of innovative problem-solving within your field. Encourage students to challenge assumptions and explore diverse perspectives. Emphasize the importance of valuing the creative process, highlighting the effort, exploration, and innovation involved in generating original ideas, regardless of whether they result in a flawless solution.

I have used the six thinking hats to analyze a problem differently in a classroom The white hat helps us to think in the most objective and neutral way possible. With the red hat, we can express our feelings, intuition, and emotions, without the need for justification. The black hat is used to be critical in a negative way, With the yellow hat, unlike the black hat, we try to look at the positive aspects of a specific issue; The green hat opens up creative possibilities And finally, the blue hat is the one controlling all other hats. It regulates the timing and the order of the different topics. With this one, we discuss the thinking process and summarize what has been said. In the end, the conclusions are written. The Six Hat

Lo más importante antes de aplicar cualquier tipo de método y/o estrategia para despertar la creatividad, es generar conciencia que la creatividad puede ser educada y que no existe un límite de edad. Muchos estudiantes parten con un prejuicio, creen que algunos son más dotados que otros en materia creativa, y por más que se apliquen estrategias, no le dan el debido valor e importancia. Entonces, es fundamental que se dedique un tiempo en motivar y concientizar a los alumnos de que todos tienen un potencial creativo que se puede despertar, que este proceso es absolutamente viable para todos, porque es una cualidad propia de la naturaleza humana. Una vez logrado esto, se puede implementar la gran variedad de ejercicios y técnicas disponibles.

What I notice is that they are not used to think using their brain. They scroll up and down their screens, subjected to real overdoses of images and news, but it seems they don't have a filter, everything slips by without leaving a trace. Faced with blatant "fake news" they don't ask questions, they're simply not interested. In most cases the first job to do with them is to "wake them up", provoke them, force them to react against the apathy that the mass media have educated them to suffer.

Creativity is a fundamental skill that is increasingly rare in children; I would like to implement subjects such as life drawing - taking them into nature, listening to music, creating artifacts with clay, fabric, salt dough, any type of material that forces them to use their hands and the brain functions that have become dormant with technology.