Unlocked: Assessment as the Key to Everyday Creativity in the Classroom (Teaching and Measuring Creativity and Creative Skills)

by Katie White

Overview

Creativity enhances the quality of our lives, encouraging us to look deeper, search wider, and explore multiple perspectives. With Unlocked by Katie White, you'll discover how to effectively connect creativity and assessment of creativity within any classroom setting. A variety of practical ideas and tools helps you design rich, authentic learning experiences that encourage inquiry and creative development rather than compliance and "right" answers.

Learn how to develop creativity assessment methods that truly foster creativity:

• Develop an understanding of the creative process and its four critical stages. Explore the numerous benefits of encouraging and developing students' creative thinking skills.
• Examine, in depth, the connection between effective assessment and students' creative development.
• Acquire concrete strategies for developing assessment methods (such as formative and self-assessment for learning) that unlock students' creative skills.
• Access free online reproducibles and resources for teaching creative skills and assessing creativity in the classroom.

Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Exploring the Integrated Nature of Assessment and the Creative Process
Chapter 2: Unlocking the Creative Space
Chapter 3: Unlocking Exploration
Chapter 4: Unlocking Elaboration
Chapter 5: Unlocking Expression
Chapter 6: Unlocking Reflection and Response
Appendix A
Appendix B
References and Resources
Index

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781947604513
Publisher:	Solution Tree Press
Publication date:	12/31/2018
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	619,293
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

About the Author ix

Introduction 1

About This Book 3

Creativity and Assessment 4

How This Book Will Explore Creativity Through Assessment 8

Final Thoughts 9

1 The Integrated Nature of Assessment and the Creative Process 11

Myths About Creativity 14

The Creative Process 17

Creativity in a Classroom Context 20

Threats to Creativity 29

Assessment Processes That Unlock Creativity 31

Myths and Misconceptions About Assessment 39

Assessment as the Key to Unlocking Creativity 43

Final Thoughts 44

Applying Assessment Within the Stages of the Creative Process 45

2 Unlocking the Creative Space 47

Critical Actions for Teachers and Students When Unlocking the Creative Space 48

The Role of the Teacher 59

Final Thoughts 61

Unlocking the Creative Space: Observation and Self-Assessment 62

Suggestions When Designing Creative Spaces 65

3 Unlocking Exploration 67

Critical Actions for Teachers and Students When Unlocking Exploration 68

The Role of the Teacher 89

Assessment and Exploration 91

Final Thoughts 94

Unlocking Exploration: Observation and Self-Assessment 95

Using Conversation as a formative Assessment Tool During the Creative Process 99

Collecting Conversation Data 101

Self-Assessment and Goal Setting During Exploration 102

4 Unlocking Elaboration 103

Critical Actions for Teachers and Students When Unlocking Elaboration 105

The Role of the Teacher 124

Assessment and Elaboration 125

Final Thoughts 132

Unlocking Elaboration: Observation and Self-Assessment 133

Elaboration Self-Assessment and Goal Setting 136

Ingredients for Creativity 137

Seeking Feedback 138

Creative Focus Tracker 139

Observations by Target 140

Observation and Action 141

5 Unlocking Expression 143

Critical Actions for Teachers and Students When Unlocking Expression 145

The Role of the Teacher 158

Assessment and Expression 160

Final Thoughts 162

Unlocking Expression: Observation and Self-Assessment 163

Expression Self-Assessment and Reflection on Goals and Success Criteria 166

Observation During Expression 167

6 Unlocking Reflection and Response 169

Critical Actions for Teachers and Students When Unlocking Reflection and Response 172

The Role of the Teacher 187

Assessment and Reflection and Response 189

Final Thoughts 193

Unlocking Reflection and Response: Observation and Self-Assessment 194

Reflection and Response Self-Assessment 198

Comparing Creative Work 199

My Portfolio 200

Appendix A 201

Appendix B 203

References and Resources 213

Index 219

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"The classroom of the 21st century is often a space where creativity plays second (or third) fiddle to the growing pressure to assess and report our students' learning. Unlocked is Katie White's follow-up to her inspirational 2017 debut, Softening the Edges; this time, she provides the key to unlock creativity in both the student and teacher. Unlocked redefines what exploration, experimentation, elaboration, and expression look and feel like in our classrooms. White invites readers to foster an inclusive and compassionate approach to teaching and assessment with a voice tempered with experience, reason, and passion. Her beautifully scripted anecdotes provide the foundation and framework to a deeply practical and profound guidebook for teachers of all ages and grades. Unlocked is the answer to anyone who questions if creativity can thrive in the ever-increasing standardized world of education."

—Dean Armstrong, senior English language arts and theatre arts teacher, North East School Division #200, Saskatchewan, Canada

"Katie White's refreshing approach to assessment through creativity will help move learning forward for all learners in the classroom. The narrative nature of the book pulls teachers in and invites them to think about how the intersection of assessment and creativity can build the competencies of lifelong learners."

—Rosalind Poon, vice principal, Steveston-London Secondary School, British Columbia, Canada

"In Unlocked, Katie White opens our minds to explore the intricate dance of assessment with creativity. She inspires an embedded and collaborative assessment culture where the conversation overflows with words like creativity, exploration, engagement, feedback, passion, and my favorite — wonder. This book is a cornucopia of ideas and inspiration, helping teachers to confidently embrace a creative mindset in their assessment practice, supporting independent and invested learners."

—Jim Smith, educational consultant and trainer, Minnesota

"This fantastic book highlights how we can tailor our assessment practices to support and promote creativity in our classes. A must-read for teachers of all subjects and school levels."

—Josh Ogilvie, physical and health education department head, Burnaby School District, British Columbia, Canada