Creative Partnerships In Practice

The authoritative guide to embedding creative learning in schools, written by a Director at Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE).

This book examines the gaps in creativity education across the education lifespan and the resulting implications for creative education and economic policy. Building on cutting-edge international research, the editors and contributors explore innovations in interdisciplinary creativities, including STEM agendas and definitions, science and creativity and organisational creativity amongst other subjects. Central to the volume is the idea that good creative educational practice and policy advancement needs to reimagine individual contribution and possibilities, whilst resisting standardization: it is inherently risky, not risk-averse. Prioritising creative partnerships, zones of contact, practice encounters and creative ecologies signal new modes of participatory engagement. Unfortunately, while primary schools continue to construct environments conducive to this kind of ‘slow education’, secondary schools and education policy persistently do not. This book argues, from diverse viewpoints and methodological perspectives, that 21st-century creativity education must find a way to advance in a more integrated and less siloed manner in order to respond to pedagogical innovation, economic imperatives and creative possibilities, and adequately prepare students for creative practice, workplaces and publics. This innovative volume will appeal to students and scholars of creative practice as well as policy makers and practitioners.

Creative Partnerships (CP) commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research to research the sharing of practice generated through CP within and between schools locally. Based on 93 interviews with teachers and CP staff, the research explored the relationship between the dissemination of the work of CP and the more informal means by which teachers learn directly from each other, including how teachers share their learning and practice from creative experiences with colleagues in their own schools and between schools; factors that enable, hinder and sustain such sharing; and how teachers plan for and carry out effective sharing. Reported findings include: (1) Teachers learn from attending conferences and events about creativity, but they also engage very directly with each other (e.g. in the classroom and in staff meetings), sharing their enthusiasm and their techniques; (2) Informal approaches are a fundamental stepping stone for teachers' initial engagement with creative practice, as well as for their continued reflection and learning. The study formulates a four-step plan for appropriate sharing, and sets out a model to help ascertain when sharing is successful. This report is directed toward those involved in building capacity for creative teaching and learning within schools, as well as in widening the reach of creative teaching and learning between schools. (Contains 3 figures and 5 tables.) [This research was conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research (Northern Office) for Creative Partnerships.].

The concept of creative learning extends far beyond Arts-based learning or the development of individual creativity. It covers a range of processes and initiatives throughout the world that share common values, systems and practices aimed at making learning more creative. This applies at individual, classroom, or whole school level, always with the aim of fully realising young people’s potential. Until now there has been no single text bringing together the significant literature that explores the dimensions of creative learning, despite the work of artists in schools and the development of a cadre of creative teaching and learning specialists. Containing a mixture of newly commissioned chapters, reprints and updated versions of previous publications, this book brings together major theorists and current research. Comprising of key readings in creative education, it will stand as a uniquely authoritative text that will appeal to those involved in initial and continuing teacher education, as well as research academics and policy specialists. Sections include: a general introduction to the field of creative learning arts learning traditions, with sub sections on discrete art forms such as drama and visual art accounts of practice from artist-teacher partnerships whole school change and reforms curriculum change assessment evaluative case studies of impact and effect global studies of policy change around creative learning.

This book discusses key aspects of life in schools and classrooms, and surveys the changes that have occurred over the years in educational research, policy making and practice in these school and classroom settings. It not only examines cutting-edge research in these areas, but also showcases good practices in the field. Among the topics reviewed are recent developments in assessment, methods for collecting and analysing data on classroom practice, school leadership and the pros and cons of class size and small-class teaching; topics which are currently hotly debated in education systems around the globe. As such, the book objectively examines the various debates, and surveys the full range of evidence available. Education researchers, policy makers and practitioners often hold differing views about the reasons for teacher and student behaviour in classrooms and, for example, its relevance to class size. Many of these views are based on ‘gut feelings’ rather than hard evidence. Unfortunately, these three groups, with differing perspectives, often ‘talk past each other’ rather than engage in a productive, mutually beneficial dialogue. The book builds an effective bridge between researchers, policy makers and practitioners regarding the impact of these various aspects of classroom life, so that the viewpoints of each can be carefully considered and evaluated.

Since the establishment of the National Curriculum and the National Literacy and Numeracy strategies in 1998 and 1999, concerns have been expressed that creativity and innovative approaches to teaching may have been unintentionally constrained. Creative Partnerships was introduced as a two-year pilot scheme in 2002 in 16 local areas, and then more widely from 2004. The scheme funds creative professionals to go into schools and work in partnership with teachers and students, offers continuing professional development to school staff, and also provides guidance on creativity in relation to wider school improvement. This report focuses predominantly on Creative Partnerships as a scheme. Policy-makers now appear agreed on a definition of creativity which goes beyond the expressive and aesthetic arts, and agree that in educational terms creativity should extend right across the curriculum. Evidence suggests a very high level of support for more creative approaches to teaching among school staff and creative practitioners. Continuing professional development is of fundamental importance to embedding more creative approaches to teaching and learning, and should be seen as the core of the operation. Extending creative approaches beyond a particular activity and firmly embedding them in the wider curriculum remains a key challenge for schools and also for Creative Partnerships as an organisation. A priority now for Creative Partnerships and its two sponsoring Government departments in planning for the future should be to produce replicable models or templates, which can then be used and adapted to initiate work in other schools.

Brand collaborations are widely considered the art of the perfect match. This book is a guide to understanding the process of brand collaborations and explains the key factors of success to build specific forms of collaborations between diverse partners. The Art of Successful Brand Collaborations gives tangible examples of partnerships between various kinds of internationally renowned artists, celebrities, brands and companies such as Coca-Cola, Louis Vuitton, Puma, David Beckham and Pharrell Williams. In this vivid study, the academic and practitioner author team outline deep knowledge about the advantages and economic benefits of this marketing strategy. This includes additional meaning, improvement of the brand image, attracting new customers within different target groups and the development of the brand in new markets. Filled with interviews from practitioners and vital academic and professional insights, this book is an essential guide for brand managers, professors and students to better understand and successfully implement the process of brand collaborations.

The chapters in this book explore the methods by which the many aspects of creative pedagogy might be implemented in the context of teaching and learning. One chapter proposes a creative approach to studying local history, while another suggests a pedagogical framework for coding education that has the potential to foster the development of creative thinking abilities and equip individuals to actively participate in global affairs. The utilization of case studies in the field of Citizen Science demonstrates the implementation of a comprehensive and innovative learning framework that incorporates several sensory modalities. Another chapter demonstrates the potential of maker spaces in fostering active and creative learning as well as enhancing student engagement among underrepresented and minority populations. One chapter explores the emergence of flow in STEAM activities as a means to promote heightened levels of comprehension and active engagement in science education. The book concludes with the presentation of two scholarly studies on the implementation of creative pedagogy within the context of Higher Education. The first study explores the advantages of collaborative creativity within the bachelor of social work programs. The second delves into the pursuit of an innovative design that effectively connects the curriculum with the work environment, resulting in the integration of valuable educational content inside professional settings.