Teaching Creativity

   Question:

         Can someone be taught to be creative or more creative if they follow guidelines such as the Eight I’s of Learning or is this really just a different way of thinking that can potentially lead to creative thoughts? 

           Creativity lies within. People are naturally imaginative, intellectual, and investigative and so on. Claxton's Eight I's of Learning does not teach people to be more creative but teaches them to look and think differently than they would. In other words, they learn to think outside the box. The teachings can potentially lead to creative thoughts but the person is not naturally going to be more creative. Just because they learned how to look at something one way, does not mean they are going to continue when it’s not required. If one isn't naturally observant they aren't going to use those skills on a regular basis but may when it might benefit them. Since creativity will be “learned”, it will be easy to forget. This guide may help but everyone is different. Creativity can be accomplished by teaching people new things and providing them with an outlet to express themselves. Creativity can't be forced.