Creativity and Curiosity: My Thoughts- Special Post #12A

When I was in the Marines, I was always the one who asked the never ending "what if" questions.  My platoon would always get so mad at me for being curious and trying to gain knowledge from the experienced combat veterans.  The phrase of the day would be, "What if grasshoppers had machine-guns Bailey? Birds probably wouldn't mess with them any more."  I learned that curiosity in the classroom is one thing, but curiosity in a combat zone can get you killed.  Curiosity can kill the cat in certain situations.

Nick Saban once said that most humans exist only to get by with the least amount of effort possible; rarely do people actively strive to reach their full potential.  If curiosity fuels creativity, then creativity creates work.  Most people including teachers are not willing to put in the work required for encouraging creativity.  In turn, they are not willing to facilitate curiosity.  In the past, schools have suppressed curiosity and creativity for many reasons.  One reason is that creativity was expensive.  Technology has negated much of that expense through the use of computers and software verses concrete materials.  The more teachers start to understand how technology can be a cheap platform for creativity, the more creativity will be encouraged.  Another reason creativity has been suppressed is that many teachers are just plain lazy and don't want to put in the extra work required to facilitate curiosity and creativity in their classrooms.  Many teachers today are not willing to take the time to research and learn how technology can facilitate creativity in a much cheaper way than ever before possible.

Curriculum can be created to increase both curiosity and creativity, but once again, many teachers are so set in their traditional teaching methods, they are not willing to change.  Video assignments, group projects, and blogging are all ways to incite creativity.  Curious teachers create curious students.  It's important for teachers to lead by example.  When a student asks a question that the teacher has no answer for, I think that teacher should look the answer up right then and there in front of the students.  This shows students that it's ok not to know the answer, but it's important to know where to find the answer and to not waste time in finding it.

I personally feel that some people are just blessed with a better creative ability than others for the same reasons some people are better at math or english.  I have tried many times to play the guitar to no avail.  However, I feel like writing has always come pretty natural.  Still, playing music and writing music is two different things altogether.  That is why some people write songs while others play and or sing them.  Some very rare minds are able to do both.

Can I increase my capacity for creativity?  I think I can.  In todays world of technology and user friendly tools, raw creativity has become a much more attainable thing for me.  I find it much easier to create in a field that interests me.  Offensive football is a much more preferable canvas for my creativity.  I love to see a football team come together and win games by using the plays, schemes, and techniques I have created.  I have had this opportunity only once in my life, and I have been striving to get myself back in that sort of situation ever since.  My ultimate goal is to coach college football.  I plan to use whatever creative ability I have to foster an offense that will be unstoppable.

Elspeth Bishop is a writer for InGoodMeasure.net. She was born and raised in Colorado and now enjoys skiing, playing tennis, and hiking in the mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah.  I do not plan to contact her at this time.  I'm swamped with wonderful unexpected assignments like this one!  :-)