ABSTRACT
What is creativity, and what does it have to do with the work of the teacher? It may be helpful to begin by drawing a basic distinction. There seem to be two common interpretations of creativity when looking at teaching and learning. The first, experiential creativity, refers to the nurturing of creativity in learners. In some schools and colleges this is seen as a goal for all learners in all curriculum areas, whilst in others it is seen as the business of subjects such as art, drama and English and perhaps design and technology. The second, professional creativity, refers to the idea that being creative as a teacher is a professional concern or responsibility. Recent research into teachers’ views of creativity suggests that both individuals and whole schools can vary a great deal on these and other dimensions in terms of the notions of creativity they hold (Ashworth, 1998).
