Taught by scientists in Psychology and Design, this short course focuses on what creativity is, how it already exists in teaching the curriculum for excellence, and how it can be nourished to equip children with the best possible educational outcomes.
Course Overview
Creativity Matters is taught by scientists in Psychology and Design at Edinburgh Napier University and focuses on what creativity is, how it already exists in teaching the curriculum for excellence, and how it can be nourished to equip children with the best possible educational outcomes.
Creativity Matters is targeted to primary and secondary school teachers.
A recent OECD report on the curriculum for excellence in Scotland highlights creativity as a key transformative skill that should be focused on in the classroom. From psychological research there is a wealth of evidence showing that creativity is linked to positive academic attainment, cognitive ability, and socio-emotional development. This course provides an understanding of what creativity is and its benefits for learners, how it is already embedded in existing teaching structures and can be nourished to equip future thinkers with tools to succeed in a globally challenging environment.
Course Details
By the end of this course attendees will have a good understanding of strategic priorities and government policies of enhancing creativity in the classroom, scientific evidence of positive outcomes of creativity and how teachers can encourage creativity, understanding creativity in the classroom that is already present in STEM subjects and can be nourished in existing classroom practice.
You will learn:
- Underpinning policies: Obtain an overview of the government, OECD agenda, General Teaching Council Scotland’s take on creativity in the classroom.
- Scientific Research: Understand research showing the positive outcomes of creativity and what can encourage creativity.
- Case studies and evidence-based practice: Learn about successful case examples.
- Creative teachers and success measures: Develop a classroom-based activity based on current provision and think of how success can be measured.
- Work and organisational aspects and teacher education: Implementation in the classroom and potential barriers and how to overcome them.
How You'll Be Taught
The course will run online for 1 day via Microsoft Teams.
The day will contain mostly of exercises for teachers and classroom activities that are evidence based. A focus will be on small changes and awareness of creativity in the classroom that is already present and can be fostered rather than brand new add-ons in trying to deliver the curriculum for excellence. You will also discuss your experiences with other teachers and develop classroom-based activities ready to take back to the workplace.
Feedback will be provided on the classroom-based activity based on our empirical knowledge on creativity.
Staff involved include: Dr Lindsey Carruthers (Psychology, Expert in Creativity Research), Dr Rory MacLean (Psychology, Expert in Creativity Research), Dr Marina Wimmer (Psychology, Expert in Cognitive Development), Dr Peter Buwert (Arts and Design, Expert in Ethical Design and Creativity).
Dates
Monday, May 7th 2024 for Primary school teachers
Or
Tuesday, May 28th 2024 for Secondary school teachers - BOOKINGS NOW CLOSED
Fees
This course is £150 per participant.
If your school is paying on your behalf and need to pay by invoice please complete this FORM REQUESTING INVOICE.
You can also email cpd_sas@napier.ac.uk with the date and course title and the names of all those you’d like to register. We will then get back to you and confirm how we can facilitate this form of payment and reserves your place(s) on the course.