Developing Creativity in Higher Education

by Norman Jackson (editor), Martin Oliver (Editor), Malcolm Shaw (Editor)

Graduates face a world of complexity which demands flexibility, adaptability, self-reliance and innovation, but while the development of creativity is embedded in the English National Curriculum and in workplace training, the higher education sector has yet to fully recognise its importance.

This book highlights how pressures such as quality assurance, peer review systems, demands for greater efficiency and increased research output are effectively discouraging innovation and creativity in higher education. It makes a bold case for the integration of creativity in higher education, drawing together contributors and research from around the world and explores valuable lessons learnt from those working in schools and professional organisations.

Offering a wealth of advice on how to foster creativity on an individual and an institutional level, this book encourages lecturers to engage with the ideas and practice involved in helping students to be creative in all areas of their study.

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Peaches · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book on a Friday night and have no regrets 1. Because I'm a nerd and 2. Because it was so rich in content! I'm surprised it's been out this long as so many educators in higher ed. are still teaching under twentieth-century models of education. I'll end up using it in my research, so I won't outline specifics, but it should be mandatory for anyone in higher ed.
My one qualm, as will many pedagogy texts, is that it never gives examples for readers. In one chapter, they actually identify the lack of examples and say they'd rather leave it to the individual skills and imaginations of the instructors, which is definitely a cop out, but at least the acknowledged the lack of practical curriculum.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource with information on more recent research on creativity in higher education from the UK perspective and some great insights. Citing this in a journal article on pedagogical practices in the arts for fostering creativity.