Summary: In
a nutshell, Olivia Gude is suggesting the way we teach may not inherently
foster creative development. External forces upon students such as rubrics,
critiques, peer pressure, and societal influences can combine to dampen
creative expression. What we as educators need to do is encourage creative
behaviors in our students. We can do this by encouraging acceptance of anxiety
and discomfort during ideation, providing a psychologically safe environment
free from external evaluational, and being empathetic by meeting students where
they are at. Characteristics of creative people (C.R. Rogers) such as the
ability to play, openness to experience, and having an inner locus of
evaluation can be enhanced in safe classrooms that emphasize the importance of
creative exploration over the structured standards and assessments.
1. Where /when do you notice “discomfort”
when you are teaching? Please illustrate with a teaching example. What do
you think accounts for the discomfort?
Right now my
third, fourth, and fifth graders are finishing up open ended projects that
celebrate our school's 25th anniversary. I started the year explicitly teaching
creativity training. I did not want to look at 250 compositions using our
school's mascot - the dolphin. In fact, I forbade use of the dolphin. Most
students were eager to begin the culminating project. However, I have about a
dozen students with whom I really had to hold their hand to chose a final
project and start working. With the grade level I teach, I noticed that
these students share some common qualities: low self-efficacy, inability to
trust their own choices, learned helplessness (pointing to underachievement),
and a lack of a close relationship with the art teacher. Most students I can
play around and joke with. These students I seem to maintain a distant
relationship with.
2. What (if
anything) inhibits your creative development?
For
me, personally, I have to have solitude. Before I hurt my back, I went for
weekend hikes so I could have time to think. So, having anyone around when I am
warming the egg is a deal breaker.
I also
don't like to feel judged. At almost 40, I am still touchy feely when my ideas
are in the incubation phase. If I am at home, I snarl and lock my door to
keep others away.
Conversely,
not having an audience of peers at the end can be a downer.
Too much
freedom also prevents me from creative production. If I don't have my own
problem to solve, I will look for structured environments (such as graduate
classes) to keep the brain juices flowing.
I also like the solitude when I am working. However, my work always turns out better when I have the opinions of others to help it along the way, I am different depending on the environment that I am in, which sounds a lot like you. When I am at home my husband and daughter are generally out doing something or sleeping when I am working, but if I am in a class setting, I want everyone's take, good or bad. AND I hear you on the mascot thing. So many of my students want to take and easy route, and I remind them time and time again that I do not want 50 identical pieces of work in the end. I want to know it is yours before I read the name.
ReplyDeleteI too need solitude during the ideation phase and especially during the early stages of the actual creating process. I have to have time to experiment with material in private, without anyone watching. It really doesn't matter how comfortable I am with that person. I don't even like my husband around when I first start working on a piece. I'm much more open to peer feedback once I have my general trajectory established and at times, I have found it crucial to helping me work through a technical or creative problem. Occasionally, I'm able to "play" in the presence of others, but usually only if I think the work is a throwaway. There have been times, though, when I've started a "throwaway" piece that ended up evolving into some of my best work. I just can't go into it thinking that that's what's going to happen. If I do, I'll choke every time. I REALLY relate to students who have anxiety about creating on command. I have a hard time in studio classes because of it. I just really prefer to work in private. I wonder how many students give up on art simply because the classroom/studio environment just isn't comfortable or conducive to their best work?
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many students give up on art simply because the classroom/studio environment just isn't comfortable or conducive to their best work?
DeleteI really like your last question. I would like to add to it.
How many students give up on art because their home environment isn't conducive to their best work?
We are lucky because we have at least one "safe" spot. I know some students of mine take what they learn in class and work with the ideas at home and bring it back to show off. Conversely, I also have had a few students who just don't try. Or if they do try, throw away their work as soon as it is time to take it home. Last year, I talked to a classroom teacher about one such fifth grade boy. He had done such good work, but then chucked it into the trash bin on the last day. The grade level teacher said that the parents would throw away the work at home. She observed the same behavior from him in her class.
Very interesting on all fronts. I am sitting try to reflect on the moment when I no longer felt inhibited about working with others around..... I can not pin point it, but I can tell you its only in maybe the past 6 or 7 years. What accounts for that shift? Again, will need to reflect. I can tell you that as I aged, an inner confidence, like a blind knowing that what ever happens on that paper or canvas is fine. Actually, as I sit here and think on it, I believe I sank into the trust of process. That said, I think all creatives covet that quiet time with lack of distracting influences (what ever that is).
ReplyDeleteThis maybe is the value for me, working with my students... they see the process isn't as scary and notice Mrs. Ruopp talking to herself, pacing, stepping away, tackling a difficult moment and surviving.... :) I wonder if we all secretly fear a poor product even though we revile in the process.... old habits? I wonder. hmm, thank you for offering me a chewy reflection to think on!