Definitions of creativity are not consistent but a common reference point for UK schools the report 'All our futures: Creativity, culture and education', the National Advisory Committee's report (DFE, 1999). Here creativity was defined as having four characteristics:

First, they [the characteristics of creativity] always involve thinking or behaving imaginatively. Second, overall this imaginative activity is purposeful: that is, it is directed to achieving an objective. Third, these processes must generate something original. Fourth, the outcome must be of value in relation to the objective.

The value of this definition of creativity and of the creativity debate in general was that it opened up a way of thinking about the nature of teaching and learning.

Creativity was a much wider concept than an interest in the visual or practical arts. One could be creative studying calculus just as much as acting Shakespeare or constructing a sculpture. Every teacher could ask were my learners being creative and feel supported if they wanted to make changes.

However this definition of creativity and the attempt to support creativity in the classroom was not without problems and tensions. For example while creativity was justified in pragmatic ways – being creative made you a better and more employable learner – should creativity perhaps have been valued in its own right, rather than a means to an end? Another tension was that while most practitioners saw creativity as desirable (we all want to be creative) many did not see it as possible in, say, their subject, the topic they were teaching and when faced with so much content to teach and necessary preparation of pupils for testing anthe drive for creativity fell away. Creativity was in any case battling for space between others concepts such as engagement, personalisation from which it was not easily distinguished.

What has this to do with ICT? The use of ICT is very often seen as creative as it involves doing things interactivity and it can absorb learners in creating products which have personal meaning. However there is confusion as to whether ICT is really there to support creative teaching (for example multimedia IWB displays) or creative learning and can it be said that a lot of teaching with technology is not creative at all?

What do you understand by creativity?

How does the term and the associations we make with creativity differ in different countries?

For you to read

You can find more or less anything you may want to know about creativity literature at the Open University Creativity Centre:

http://opencreativity.open.ac.uk/recent.htm 

FutureLab

You can read some relevant literature reviews at FutureLab. Not all of it is directly related to creativity so again be creative. Be careful how you use these reviews, do not accept the authors’ conclusion on trust or believe that they have summarised each article in the way you would have done. You can access all these reviews as PDFs at:

www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/publications_reports_articles/literature_reviews

Kirriemuir,J. and McFarlane,A. (2004) Games and Learning, Futurelab, Bristol

“This review is intended as a timely introduction to current thinking about the role of computer games in supporting children's learning inside and out of school, highlighting the key areas of research in this field.”

Loveless, A. (2002) Creativity, Technology and Learning, Futurelab, Bristol.

“This review maps out the different perspectives on creativity, and the teaching and learning of creativity, and brings together latest thinking in this field. It also highlights some of the key questions concerning assessment and creativity.” There is a 2007 update at the same site.

Sefton-Green,J. (2004) Informal Learning with Technology Outside School, Futurelab, Bristol.

“This review explores the extent to which research in this area is raising fundamental questions about how children learn and, consequently, whether we need to re-examine the design of our formal education system.”

For you to view

This Teachers TV film explores the use of animation - do you feel this is an exploration of creative application of ICT to learning?