How do you take young, creative minds full of crazy dreams and hopes about the future, and turn them into young adults who are so afraid of stepping out of the boxes to create?đ
Well, it’s simple; make them believe that there is a single way of doing things.
Remember when we used to dream of exploring skies and didn’t care if it seemed too far? We were naive but confident. But somewhere along the way, things got wrong.
One of the bitter things I learned in high school was that you can’t afford to be passionate.
You’re making inventions in your head, exploring fascinating theories, and then BAM – there’s a quiz tomorrow, and you’re expected to regurgitate facts instead of explaining how to change the world đ
. We somehow taught kids that creativity and intelligence were mutually exclusive, and we grew a generation afraid of thinking outside the box.
Now, this is not about blaming anyone, but to suggest a few things that I think could help in letting kids be kids, and giving them a space to be exposed to and explore new paths.
What we can do to make creativity and academic life cohabitate again:
⢠Mistakes are okay! Encourage experimentation and risk-taking.
â˘Value the journey of creative exploration as much as the final outcome. Reward the ideation and the process of problem-solving not just the final âanswerâ.
â˘Encourage students to ask “why?” and “what if?” questions. Foster a love of learning for its own sake. The classes we take in high school are interesting if not reduced to a mere collection of quiz questions.
â˘Don’t confine creativity to art class. Find ways to incorporate creative thinking into math, science, history, and other subjects. Itâs possible!
You might be surprised to discover that some students can transform everyday objects into tools for imaginative exercises.
@Let’s bring back fun and excitement to learning!
#innovation #creativity #education #youth #Burundi #positivechangemindset
By Adnette BUHAGA
