Creative

Creative learning zones and participation in discussion nurture a sense of togetherness and encourage skills of teamwork and cooperation.

Creativity engages the mind and frees it in a way that enables students to absorb complex knowledge more easily.

Therefore, creativity also fosters mental growth in children by providing opportunities for trying out new ideas, new ways of thinking and problem-solving.

For example, in an Education Development International survey (CBI, 2010), a quarter (24%) of employers were dissatisfied with problem-solving skills – students’ ability to use creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions to problems.

Provide opportunities for creative thinking to:

  • Capture and communicate ideas, thoughts, feelings and visions of the world
  • Build confidence and curiosity
  • Engage different learning styles
  • Encourage different ways of thinking

Inclusive Creativity

We design creative learning zones to encourage creativity for learning spaces, libraries and common areas, as well as incorporate these elements into specialised teaching areas, such as Science, Design and Technology and Sport.

Research has shown that all people are creative. Therefore, creativity is one of the most important aspects of being human and one of the traits that sets us apart and makes us successful as a species.

Create the right creative learning environment and even those who do not believe they are creative can produce innovative and imaginative work.

The neurologist Alice Flaherty talks about the neural basis of creativity:

“A creative idea will be defined simply as one that is both novel and useful (or influential) in a particular setting.”

This applies not only to typically creative subjects such as English, Art or Design and Technology but also to IT, Science, Mathematics or Geography.

Create a creative environment

George Land conducted a research study in 1968. What this oft-quoted test shows is that non-creative behaviour is learned.

Land did a creativity test on children aged 3 to 5. He tested the same children at aged 10, and again at 15. The results were as shocking as they were illuminating.

While creativity in 5-year-olds was measured at 98%, it declined to 30% by the time they were 10. And it was just 12% when they were tested at 15.

The same test was given to 280,000 adults – creativity was measured at an average of 2%.

What best prepares students for life beyond the classroom is learning how to be more creative, which includes flexibility in perception and execution of tasks.

“The principle goal of education should be to create people who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done – men who are creative, inventive, and discoverers.” – Jean Piaget

WF Education’s range of configurable solutions are designed to be engaging and inspirational and includes elements to inspire creativity, including writable surfaces, easily accessible resources, and a range of seating and desking options.