Creativity Lessons with Teresa Amabile, Part 2

Best-selling author Teresa Amabile describes three major ingredients for creativity:  domain skills, creative thinking and working skills, and intrinsic motivation.  Each of these is essential in order to produce original ideas or products that have value.

In today's standards-driven educational environment, fine arts educators can get caught up in teaching content to the detriment of teaching process.  This can be harmful to the development of creativity.  Amabile writes "There are some special working styles, thinking styles, and personality traits that enable people to use their domain skills in new ways" (1989, p. 46).  She suggests that originality is improved when one consciously sets out to do something out of the ordinary.

In addition to a conscious effort to develop an original idea, a respectful attitude of craftsmanship is helpful.  Amabile asserts that this working style is marked by:

1. a dedication to doing the work well
2. an ability to concentrate effort and attention for long periods of time
3. an ability to abandon unproductive ideas and temporarily put aside stubborn problems
4. a persistence in the face of difficulty
5. a willingness to work hard (1989, p. 47).

Thinking styles are also important.  Amabile observes that many creative persons have several of the following thinking styles:

1. breaking set patterns of thinking
2. understanding complexities
3. keeping options open
4. suspending judgment
5. thinking broadly 
6. remembering accurately
7. breaking out of scripted habits of acting
8. perceiving freshly
9. using tricks to help think of new ideas (1989, pp. 48-49).

These process-oriented goals are more subtle than content standards.  They are harder to measure, and therefore, are harder to demonstrate to an evaluating administrator.  

That doesn't make them less essential.  

A fine arts Professional Learning Community could function as a support network to help educators keep these processes on their teaching radar.  PLC work sessions could start with questions about how you supported creativity this week.  Collaboration can help us stay on track the same way that a workout buddy can hold us accountable for our physical fitness goals.

Creativity is the nexus between the core of our domain and the needs of society at large.  Let's keep these creative processes at the forefront of our curricula.  Let's think carefully about how we will know if students are learning these skills and dispositions (PLC Question #2).  Let's collaborate to find solutions when students don't learn these essential skills and dispositions (PLC Question #3).  

Finally, let's collaborate to support each other and advocate for our discipline.  Society is desperate for creative work, and we are the resident experts in every schoolhouse in the country.  Be proud, and be important!

References
Amabile, T. (1989). Growing up creative: Nurturing a lifetime of creativity. New York, NY: Crown Publishers