Can Creativity be Taught? Learned?

Can Creativity be Taught? Learned?

For fifty years at Buffalo State University, there has evolved a culture of creativity. The concept that Creative thinking can be taught, learned, practiced, instilled - has made its way into corporations, especially ones with product and software development. Practices have shown themselves in methodologies like SCRUM (a technique of iterative product and software development that permits the vision of the final product to eventually unfold).

Everyone is a Maker
I may have mentioned in this forum that I am an advocates of the Maker Movement. The Maker community is the global community. Everyone is included because a Maker is one who makes things and everyone makes something. So everyone... in the whole world... is a Maker.

In defining everyone as a Maker and creating pathways for Making, the Maker Movement has simultaneously created pathways for Learning. Pathways that cross over into a variety of terrains. Makers can, and want to, learn.

Makersville Has Sought to Make Pathways for your Children through Their Interests
We are lucky to have in our group a wide variety of interests and expertise (learned and taught) in our Makers.
Our programs are diverse so as to provide pathways for your children's learning.
We wrap them in the interests of your children, but the path does not end there.
Is Minecraft the interest? The path can lead to sewing Minecraft Stuffies, Making their own Minecraft creations in LEGO(r), making Minecraft Mods and a community Minecraft world. And yes, we will play Minecraft.
Is LEGO(r) the interest? The path can lead to LEGO Digital Designer, open source design tools, creating their own models, mechanics, robotics, entrepreneurship in LEGO(r).... There are many. Hey, we might even sew a LEGO Stuffie! Let's make light up bricks and a lighted village!
Is Sewing the interest? It can lead to Tessellations (2D geometric forms), fabric patterning, sewing circuits, and yes, wearable technology.

Register your child for classes here.

Everyone is Creative
Our society has drawn a line between creative and not creative. This leads us to identify ourselves as one or the other. But everyone creates in their own way. Everyone has a spark of something, an idea to follow. Everyone is creative. How do you express your creativity?

I'm Learning How to Instill a Culture of Creativity
I've spent the past several days learning about creative thinking, creative problem solving, structure of and techniques for facilitating creative thinking. I wish I could tell you that it will be easy. I can see that it will take practice and persistence. Cultures are evolved over time and this.... It will take time. We will begin to evolve the teachings in Makersville's afternoon Makerspace during the summer.

About the Author:

Trish Tsoi-A-Sue is a creative facilitator, Maker and Geek Mom in the Long Beach area. Certified in LEGO® Serious Play, she is the President of ETES Inc, and creator of Makersville, a community of makers. Trish is the Ambassador for the Long Beach LEGO® User Group, a group of AFOLs and Teen Fans of LEGO® (TFOLs). Join our facebook group! Some of her random experiences are recorded on her You Tube channel, Squigglemom! Please subscribe! Trish is grateful for the opportunities provided by the Long Beach Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, without which support Makersville would not exist.