Learning

Creativity in the Classroom: An Exploration

As a part of its mission to support creative teaching strategies, Disney Learning Partnership has joined with Harvard Project Zero to produce The Creative Classroom Series, representing the joint thinking and voice of both our organizations. Each volume in the series includes a video showcasing the classrooms of award-winning teachers and an educator's guide - these materials are available free of charge.

Volume 1 of The Creative Classroom Series, "Creativity in the Classroom: an Exploration," serves as a starting place for both individuals and groups of teachers to discuss what constitutes a creative classroom and reflect on their own practice. In a field where practitioners seldom are able to visit and learn from one another's classrooms, this video and guide give a unique glimpse into the work of teachers and a useful prompt for substantive discussions of teaching and learning. The examples of practice and discussion of teaching presented in the materials are designed to explore four key questions:

  • What is a "creative" classroom?
  • What do teachers in creative classrooms do?
  • What do students get out of being in a creative classroom?
  • What can I do to develop a more creative classroom?

"The Power of the Creative Classroom," Volume 2 of the Series, goes into further detail examining the many ways students benefit from a creative learning environment and provides a "virtual visit" to the classrooms of several 1999 Disney's American Teacher Awards Honorees. "The Power of the Creative Classroom" is designed to help teachers explore the ways in which engaging approaches to learning and a collaborative school climate can enhance student learning. Teachers using the materials can experience Leslie Revis' approach to teaching high school foreign language with methods more commonly used in Kindergarten classrooms, travel to Mars with the middle school students in Paul Crips' science class, or check out the innovative methods of several other Honorees. The guide also includes a discussion of protocols and how teachers can collaborate through looking at student work with the goal of improving assignments and student outcomes.

Volume 3, "Teaching in the Creative Classroom," is designed to promote a dialogue among educators about what teachers in creative classrooms do to create positive, engaging, and effective learning opportunities for students. This volume focuses on three key areas: setting up the environment; putting units together; and adapting to individual student needs in a creative, engaging way while meeting high standards and expectations.

Volume 4: "Inside the Creative Classroom – 5 case studies," where teachers share the philosophy and methods behind some innovative lessons. Tips and resources are shared to help teachers integrate ideas into their own classrooms.