Today was a great day filled with CREATE opportunities and rich pedagogy.
We explored a range of AI tools to support creativity in today’s world and had some great discussions about how we can help our students be more creative using both digital and hands-on approaches. Next on my reading list: Mayer’s 12 Principles of Multimedia Learning: https://www.digitallearninginstitute.com/blog/mayers-principles-multimedia-learning
We also talked about how creativity isn’t just about tools. It includes important ‘soft’ skills like empathy, curiosity, resilience and problem-solving. These skills are just as important as being able to use digital apps, platforms or design something new.
Throughout the day, we looked at what helps creativity grow in the classroom and what sometimes gets in the way. A key reminder was that when we make space for creating, we are not just delivering content. We are helping our students become confident, curious learners who always think about and reflect on their learning. We talked about the importance of having regular short ‘create’ activities alongside longer, planned projects. These short creative tasks should be part of our everyday reading lessons. They help students stay engaged and support deeper understanding.
Teachers can decide how much freedom to give in these tasks:
- Tighter tasks can use templates, stencils, or graphic organisers to give structure
- Looser tasks are more open-ended and student-led. Adding a short reflection or prompt can help students make connections and explain their thinking.
Then we looked at how longer Create projects give students time to explore ideas in more depth, especially when they are based on rich, meaningful texts. These projects often connect across different learning areas and give teachers the chance to focus on teaching important skills like analysis, interpretation and design, so students are not just taking in information, but thinking about it, working with it, and making it their own.
We got to try this ourselves by making a one-shot film:) I really enjoyed the challenge. My biggest barrier was time. I had lots of ideas, but it took a while to film and process the video. When I finally watched it, I thought I was really expressive in promoting the book:)
I used to do various short and long CREATE in Reading activities with students, and today reminded me how effective they always are! They spark creativity, boost engagement, and help bring reading to life in a fun and meaningful way.
Reflecting on today, I’m reminded that creativity doesn’t just happen on its own. It needs planning, space, support and purpose! Whether it’s a short create task or a longer project, what matters is that students are making something to apply their learning and show their understanding. The key is consistency! When we regularly offer these create opportunities, students grow their skills and confidence over time.
