Creativity TED Talks

The argument of if schools foster or kill creativity is one for the ages. View these TedTalks from
both sides of the spectrum and answer the questions below. Expand thoughtfully in all of your
answers!

Before Watching

1. How do you define creativity?

Creativity is not being afraid to try something new and original. Creative people are very good
at creating art from nothing.

2. Do you consider yourself a creative person? What has your experience been in school
with creativity?
Only in some aspects of my life, I’m not good at art that involves pencils or paint but
when it comes to ceramics or architecture, I think I’m pretty good. In school my
creativity is infrequently let to explore its power.

3. Do you think schools kill creativity or do they foster creativity? Explain.

I think it does in a way, often we are just given specific instructions and expected to
follow them step by step. Only in infrequent cases are we allowed to be given a blank
canvas where we can express ourselves.

While Watching

Take lots of notes for each video and identify the claim, purpose, and evidence of each!

Do Schools Kill Creativity? Why Real Creativity is Based on Knowledge

Sir Ken Robinson Tim Leunig

Claim: Modern schools are revolving around Claim: Without knowledge creativity would
academics such as math and linguistics while be nothing. Knowledge is the basis of
crushing creativity in art, music and dance. creativity.

Purpose: To change the culture of schools Purpose: To re-establish the idea that
around the world to start valuing dance and knowledge in mathematics and linguistics is
art. important in schools because without it
creativity would be useless.
 Evidence:
- Everyone has an interest in education
- All kids have talents
- Creativity is as important as literacy
- If your not prepared to be wrong,
your not gonna make anything
original
- We get educated out of creativity
- Why don’t we teach dance in school?
- Creativity: Original ideas that have
value
- Help our kids make something of our
future
Evidence:
- Jobs are revolved around thinking for
yourself, not spitting out information
- Creativity is based on knowledge
- Knowledge bases our talents
- Literacy is the foundation of
knowledge
- Knowledge makes you a good citizen
- Creativity is putting different ideas
together and making something new
and better
-

After Watching

1. Does how we define “creativity” matter? Do Robinson and Leunig have the same
definition? Explain.
The way that we define creativity does matter because some definitions make an effort
to help society while others define it as more of an art that makes our world colorful. For
example, Robinson explains how dance, music and art are important ways of creativity but
Leunig states that creativity is seen most in professional jobs.

2. Do schools kill or foster creativity? With which speaker do you agree/disagree? Explain.
Schools kill some aspects of creativity while exfoliating others. Talents such as dance, music and
art are not as developed as mathematics or linguistics. On the other hand knowledge in all
academic areas is what helps us to be creative. I agree with the second speaker, Leunig, most
because I’ve never heard of a dancer who’s invented automobiles, or the wheel, or electricity.
The people who change the world are the ones who are knowledgeable.

3. Can creativity be taught? If so, how? What responsibility do schools have in the
endeavor?
Creativity can not be taught, it can only be harnessed. Some are more creative than
others but as they grow up they’ll grow out of it if they don’t work to care for it. Schools
have the responsibility to create an environment where creativity can be nourished.
They should give them knowledge and resources rather than crushing the creativity with
instruction.