3 minutes
There is no better way to convey knowledge than by encouraging creativity in the classroom.
Creativity is a skill everyone can acquire, develop, and stimulate through learning. We want to present 10 simple, practical ways to encourage creativity in the classroom.
1. Have students look for solutions themselves
You should not limit yourself to explaining concepts for students to learn; that will prevent them from developing their creativity.
When explaining a topic, ask questions about it, preferably ones without closed answers like "yes" or "no." Always try to ask open-ended questions such as "What would happen if…?" or "What would you do if…?"
Present problems that are not too complicated, ones they can solve themselves. This stimulates students to ask questions, make their own connections, and explore new ideas to solve them.
2. Offer personalized feedback
After conducting and grading assessments, do not simply hand over final results. Providing personalized feedback to each student should be a priority, because it is a vital part of the creative process.
Spend a little time explaining the strengths of students' work to them, along with what they need to improve.
3. Change roles
Have students take responsibility for conveying concepts and finding creative ways to do so.
You can have them make a video, a song, or even a game about what they have learned, then share that material in class.
5. Invent things with them
Imagination is the ultimate tool for encouraging creativity. You can try activities such as:
- Replace your students' names with those of historical figures and have them reenact the event they are studying.
- When explaining a topic, divide them into groups and create debates among them.
- Have them create a mythological character and then invent legends and stories about it.
6. Use multiple disciplines in your classes
Even if you are teaching a science such as mathematics, try to incorporate elements of art, music, and culture into your lessons.
For example, you can teach geometry by showing how it is applied in different artworks. Letting students see abstract concepts applied in the real world helps them understand things more easily, as well as considerably improving their creativity.
Music 
Painting 
Theater
7. Create a classroom space devoted to creativity
Design a physical classroom space, where possible, devoted exclusively to creative expression. It can be a drawing table, a bulletin board, a stage, or a teamwork area. This will change students' mindset. You will not only encourage creativity but also break monotony by having them change activities, achieving better academic performance.
Finally, remember to consider what matters most to your students; this will help you know how to spark their curiosity. If you consider their interests, you will have a good starting point for seeing what drives and guides their thinking. Put yourself in their shoes: seek inspiration in their world to see what motivates them, so you can bring out their creativity to the fullest.
Do you think creativity matters in the classroom?
Have you used a technique to encourage creativity? Share it with us.