During a recent interview with The Australian ABC 7:30 Report television program, Sir Ken Robinson spoke about developing creativity in our students.  Kerry O’Brien and Sir Ken talked at length about the “blight” of standardized testing and how schools could very well be killing the creativity of children.  Ken believes that curriculum is being driven to focus too specifically on “elite” subjects, such as Maths, Science and English and thus force a rigid cookie cutter approach to a child’s education, instead of encouraging them to develop in their own areas of strength and interest.  Ken quotes “I ran a big commission in the UK on creative education, and we had scientists on the group, we had Nobel Prize winners, we had economists, we had musicians, we had dancers, two comedians. And what was interesting was that when they came to talk about the process of creativity, it was the same in every discipline, and also that these things interact. You know, some of our greatest scientists have been inspired by the arts and some of our best artists work on deeply scientific principles.”  He is concerned that schools are producing a certain “cut” of student, rather than encouraging them to develop as unique individuals.

Is it any wonder that students are so unenthused when they stumble into a weary, teacher-directed classroom when online they can learn about anything at any given second?  Online, students have the power to pursue their interests, at school they are often restricted, usually by the crippling time constraints of curriculum-heavy learning.  ICT integration is perhaps the most potent weapon a teacher can wield if we want students to engage in their learning and develop a creative, positive enthusiasm for education.  Used effectively, technology can open the doors to a wide world web of experiences, a place far removed from a stifling classroom climate that can cripple and kill off the creative prowess these students should be developing day by day.  It is our role therefore, as Technology Integration Mentors to support teachers in this brave new world they find themselves.

One way that Tim and I have hoped to do this is through our “10 Websites posts”, which contains technology integration ideas and step-by-step instructions explaining how to use some of those exciting websites that others of us might take for granted.  If you would like some free downloads, goto the 10 Websites and scroll down in each of the posts to where it says – “click here for your free guide”.  Feel free to distribute any of these amongst the staff of your school; we hope that it makes your role as a T.I.M. that little bit easier.

You can find the full transcript and videos of the two part interview with Sir Ken at the ABC’s 7.30 Report Website.