Educators Reimagine Their Classroom During Creativity Symposium

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Peter H. Reynolds capped off the final session of The Creativity Symposium, hosted by FableVision Learning and Eduscape. The three-day virtual adventure challenged participants to reimagine the classroom.

Peter reinforced the messages of how creativity is inextricably linked to solving the problems we face each day, from the small to the seemingly impossible.

Working with FableVision’s Sara Smith and Eduscape’s Stephanie Corrente, participants from across the country discovered their innate creativity skills and learned new structured problem-solving and took a deep dive into solving problems they faced in education.

One participant said of the process:

“You taught us how to take a problem that may have seemed too large to solve but then think about and figure out how to solve and break it down into the steps then creatively come up with solutions to overcome it.”

Over the three days, educators participating first envisioned where they wanted to be - their ideal future state.  They then generated challenge statements to begin mapping their path forward. Educators then explored the important dynamic balance between divergent and convergent thinking and the magic words of possibility thinking, “What might be all the…”

After defining their challenges, participants spent time between sessions researching and collecting data about their challenges. Who is involved? What are the important aspects of the situation? What background information will inform the solution? When we came back for our second session together, educators were ready to ideate - generate as many solutions to their challenges as possible. They learned new tools and games that help stretch the imagination and open our minds to potential.With a host of diverse ideas, our cohort of teachers were able to hone  in on a final solution to develop and refine.

 
 

In our final session, educators created prototypes and shared them with each other, giving and receiving feedback to help them move forward. Their next step is to create a plan for action so they can implement the positive change they want to see in their part of the education world. 

“It is so inspiring to see teachers that care so deeply about the education experience of their students,” Sara remarked.

Educators wrestled with challenges like:

  • How might we encourage staff to build deeper relationships with students?

  • How might we track student growth and share it quickly when students move within the district?

  • What might be all the ways to increase collaboration between the elementary school and middle school?

The participants shared pictures, documents, flowcharts, spreadsheets and collages and in one case a mobile, all demonstrating creative solutions to their challenging problems. We have no doubt these teachers will make a difference in their schools. Here’s what some of the participants had to say:

“I wasn't feeling too creative, and knowing there is a science behind it and a process to learn it is exciting.”

“I learned that we all possess the ability to be creative and ways to access that creativity.”

“This is a fantastic course that allows us to really think outside our own box and expand our thoughts.” 

“This symposium allowed me to feel okay with taking a chance and putting my ideas out there without anxiety of being "wrong" or ridiculed for my ideas.You taught us how to take a problem that may have seemed too large to solve but then think about and figure out how to solve and break it down into the steps, then creatively come up with solutions to overcome it.”


If you are interested in learning about creative problem solving or creativity in education, send us a message at info@fablevisionlearning.com. We’d love to bring a creativity workshop, program, or tools to your school and inspire you and your fellow educators to Create Bravely!

CreativityAndrea CalvinCreativity SymposiumComment