What do you do if your teaching skills need a creative boost to inspire your students?
Every educator occasionally hits a slump, where the usual teaching methods and lesson plans seem to lack the spark that once engaged your students. It's normal to feel that your teaching skills need rejuvenation. The key is to recognize this and actively seek out creative strategies to reinvigorate both your classroom and your passion for teaching. Your students' curiosity and enthusiasm often mirror your own, so injecting creativity into your approach can have a profound impact on their learning experience.
When you sense that your teaching approach is becoming stale, the first step is embracing change. This doesn't mean overhauling everything you know about teaching; rather, it's about being open to new ideas and methodologies. Start by tweaking your lesson plans to include more interactive elements or by incorporating technology in a way that enhances the learning experience. Small changes can lead to big improvements in student engagement and can reignite your creative spark as an educator.
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I would stop teaching and start facilitating their learning. This methodology will certainly inspire your students to use their 'real life issues' as stating points for learning.
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The easiest way for your teaching approach to never get stale is to ask questions that elicits new perspectives. Let's assume you're teaching a concept in strategic analysis; No matter what you teach in this space, there's always going to be a layer of context, or scenario that will elicit some new train of thought. Strategic analysis in one industry vs. another, or its application with one demographic vs. another is quite impossible to master; We all normally have our specialties, so instead of trying to learn it all, why not be a catalyst for classroom discussions in this space? Not only is it an easy way for yourself to stay up to date on current trends, and industry practices, but it tends to always keep a classroom pretty spicy.
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When seeking a creative boost in teaching, I recall a time when I felt uninspired in the classroom. To reignite my creativity, I explored innovative teaching methods, attended workshops, and collaborated with fellow educators. Embracing new approaches revitalized my teaching and inspired my students. Experimenting with diverse strategies can spark creativity and engage students in meaningful learning experiences.
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1. Asumir la creatividad como parte del aprendizaje. Crear un aula que reconoce la creatividad. Es posible diseñar premios o exponer tablones de anuncios para mostrar diferentes maneras de resolver un problema, o soluciones creativas a un escenario del mundo real. 2. Utilizar las estrategias más eficaces. Torrance realizó un extenso análisis que consideró las formas más eficaces para enseñar creatividad. Encontró que los enfoques más exitosos utilizan artes creativas, programas de formación con base en criterios de comunicación, o se basaron en el programa de formación Osborn-Parnes. En suma, los programas que incorporan el funcionamiento cognitivo y emocional tienen más éxito.
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If you feel your teaching needs a creative boost to inspire students, try experimenting with new methods like project-based learning or incorporating multimedia and technology. Make learning relevant by connecting it to real-world scenarios or student interests. Encourage student creativity and collaborate with colleagues for fresh ideas. Attend professional development sessions focused on creativity and seek feedback from students to tailor your approach. Embrace risks and learn from failures to continually improve your teaching skills and ignite student enthusiasm for learning.
To fuel your creative boost, actively seek inspiration from various sources. Attend workshops, read educational blogs, or join teacher forums where you can exchange ideas with peers. Inspiration can also come from outside the educational sphere—art, nature, or even a good book can provide fresh perspectives that you can translate into your teaching practice. Remember that creativity in teaching is not just about being original, but also about being receptive to new influences.
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Those in Education recognise how time poor our teachers are, so that's why it is crucial you find your own way of seeking inspiration. Whether it is reading blogs/vlogs, scrolling Pinterest, LinkedIn etc; find your means and delve in. This will help you cut out the educational noise that is out there. If you see something that inspires you, think about how it could be applied in multiple different subject areas. Most importantly, seek inspiration in something you are passionate in and share it with your students!
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Much of the time my inspiration for creativity comes from outside my work. I am constantly reading blogs and watching vlogs from other art teachers and reaching out to discuss ideas with those in my circle. it is this interaction that helps to keep my creative juices flowing.
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One of the best ways to seek inspiration is to ask our students - what is their vision of an ideal classroom? This discussion with them can spark many ideas as well help us gather which direction our innovation should go in. Just remember to innovate to serve a purpose and not innovate because everyone else is doing it as a trend.
Collaboration with colleagues can be a goldmine for creative teaching strategies. Plan joint activities, observe each other's classes, or team up for interdisciplinary projects. Through collaboration, you'll gain insights into different teaching styles and techniques that can inspire your own practice. Moreover, working with others can help you refine your ideas and develop innovative approaches that you might not have considered on your own.
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For me, as a teacher, collaboration is at the heart of my creative process. Working with other teachers in my subject area and others allows me to spark new ideas and build on them, ultimately leading to creative outcomes in my lessons and from my students. Don't limit your collaborations to just your subject. Teachers in other subject areas will have unique perspectives on your topics and that can really push your creativity through the roof as they challenge and expand your ideas.
Take time to reflect on your teaching practices. What has worked well in the past? What hasn't? Reflection allows you to critically assess your methods and identify areas for creative improvement. Jot down thoughts in a teaching journal or discuss them with a mentor. Reflective practice is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, leading to more dynamic and effective teaching.
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Some of the best advice I have ever received is to record yourself in the classroom. It's a perfect way to see your patterns and behaviours when teaching! Sit and view it with a trusted colleague, you'll very quickly notice your go to habits both positive and negative. From here, you can then explore what area you would like to improve on, and then redo the process again. The dialogue whilst viewing the video is so incredibly powerful.
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Reflection, evaluation, and adjustment should be a regular part of all your teaching activities. Nothing works forever and we can always benefit from improvement. This is what regular reflection allows us to do. Reflection should lead to change, if you just take not but don't initiate any changes then your reflections are for nothing.
Don't be afraid to experiment with new teaching techniques or tools. Whether it's gamifying your lessons, using social media for class projects, or flipping your classroom, experimentation can lead to innovative teaching methods that resonate with your students. Remember, not every experiment will be successful, but each attempt is a learning opportunity that can help you refine your approach and discover what works best for your students.
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When experimenting with new teaching methods, it's natural to encounter some resistance, but don't let that deter you. It's crucial to try new approaches to foster innovation in your teaching. Make sure to clearly explain the reasons behind these new methods to ensure everyone understands their benefits. This communication helps in gaining support and easing the transition. Each attempt, whether successful or not, is valuable—it helps you learn what resonates with your students and what might need further adjustment. So, go ahead, step out of your comfort zone, and experiment
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As you experiment, make sure to: - Gather feedback from students every time to understand what worked for your class vs not - Keep the foundations of pedagogy in mind. For example, foster higher order thinking irrespective of format of teaching - Give each experiment enough time to settle and really yield results. Change takes time one session will not be enough to gauge whether a new format was successful or not
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Dr shushmita Gupta
STEM-CRRP Teacher
(edited)Experimenting with new teaching techniques to build creative learning classrooms here are some personal examples: 1. Flipping the Classroom: I once experimented with flipping my science class by creating video lectures for students to watch at home, allowing us to spend class time on interactive activities and discussions. 2. Gamification: In math/science I taught, I introduced a gamified review session before exams where students competed in teams to answer questions. I also incorporated social media platforms like Twitter into class projects. I agree these experiments not only added creativity to my teaching but also helped me better understand my students' learning preferences and adapt my approach accordingly.
Lastly, maintaining your passion for teaching is crucial for inspiring your students. When you are enthusiastic about the subjects you teach, that energy is contagious. Continue to learn and grow in your field, attend conferences, or take up a new hobby related to your subject area. Staying passionate about learning will naturally lead to a more creative and inspiring teaching style.
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Passion and creativity are tied hand in hand. They very much have a circular relationship, my passion drives my creativity, which in turn drives my passion. This spills over into everything I do, including my teaching. If you find you need to add some spark to your passion seek out inspiration from others, or attend a workshop to learn a new technique. There are countless options, find what works for you.