The Case for Creativity: Reversing the Decline of Creativity
The Case for Creativity: Reversing the Decline of Creativity What do a Disney animator, a traffic engineer, and a scientist all have in common with 21st century learners? Give up yet? Well, they all use creativity to solve problems and answer questions! While that may sound like a bad joke, the decline of creativity in students is no laughing matter. Recent studies have shown that creativity has been declining in students since 1990. This comes at a time when 21st century jobs require more creativity than ever, just like the three examples above. In fact, the Partnership for 21st Century Learning has identified creativity as one of the Four Cs for learning and innovation necessary for job readiness. The focus on assessment in the classroom, the lack of free time at home and in the school day, and an overemphasis on technology all contribute to suppressing our students’ natural creativity. [...]