By Daniel Curry
Increasingly, in order to be successful in an ever-changing world, we need to think creatively. However, many of us attended traditional schools where creativity was not a focus, and in fact, was actively discouraged. This presents a challenge for us to adapt to changing markets, think ‘outside the box’, and develop alternative approaches to work and life.
We of course want our children to have the best possible preparation to thrive in the future. That preparation requires time and attention to develop creative thinking skills. Some of us are naturally more creative than others, but this is a skill that can be developed and improved through practice and application.
The best schools in Gurgaon know that Problem-Based Learning / Project-Based Learning provides the best structure to unlock creative thinking in students even from an early age. At every stage, from Pre-Nursery to Grade 12, students involved in this approach consistently approach open-ended questions and problems and are challenged to provide solutions. Their minds are trained not to find the ‘one correct answer’ but to apply what they have learned, research information, and develop unique solutions based on their understanding and thinking.
For example, one class may be faced with a big question like ‘Why is the air quality bad and what can be done?’. This leads to students engaging in a meaningful and timely issue from the real world. In the context of addressing this topic, students learn the maths and science related to the issue as well as the political and social factors. They conduct experiments and study what interventions have already been tried and proposed. At each stage, they are challenged with open-ended questions like ‘What do you think’, ‘How might you approach this problem’, and ‘What other information might be important’.
Top Schools in Gurgaon constantly focus on the students’ thinking and creativity helps them sharpen their minds. They understand that knowledge is only useful when applied and that it should be used to improve the world around them (for their benefit and others). They internalize the reality that we don’t know what they will face in the future, so we aren’t in the business of telling them answers. We are here to develop their thinking, to give them opportunities to increase their creativity and problem-solving abilities and to provide them with a strong foundation academically, physically, socially, and emotionally to achieve their goals in the future.
As parents, you can also help your child develop his or her creative thinking skills. Ask open-ended questions. Help them refine their thinking, and encourage them when they produce creative and unexpected solutions and ideas. Children have natural creativity that can be nourished and encouraged given the right conditions.