Creativity

In response to Charles Duell, the U.S. patent commissioner of 1899, reputedly saying that everything that could be invented had been invented and the question being asked whether or not we've arrived at a similar juncture and if creativity should be cultivated in the classroom, I would have to say that I believe that creativity can indeed be cultivated in the classroom.  For this to be done; however, teachers cannot just rely on low order thinking instruction and\or response from students as has traditionally been the case.  Higher order thinking must be implemented in order to increase students' abilities to think critically and problem solve.  Students also need to be given choice in the way they think, share and make decisions in order for individual creativity to flourish.  In addition, students should be encouraged to use multiple pathways to learn the material; being that not all learners grasp and\or acquire knowledge in the same manner.  While learning, students must also receive formative feedback from teachers and instructors so that students are able to redirect their learning if they are on the wrong path or to have confirmation that what they are doing is correct and will have a positive outcome.