Sir. Ken Robinson on creativity and education
Here’s a great speech on creativity by education guru and the author of Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative, Sir. Ken Robinson from TED conference 2006:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4964296663335083307
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4964296663335083307
And an interview with Robinson about the importance of nurturing innovative solutions in the classroom from
BusinessWeek, Feb 23, 2006
By Jessie Scanlon
How do you define creativity?
Ultimately it’s the process of having original ideas, but there are several steps. The first step is imagination, the capacity that we all have to see something in the mind’s eye. Creativity is then using that imagination to solve problems — call it applied imagination. Then innovation is putting that creativity into practice as applied creativity.
That seems pretty straightforward. What do people not understand?
There are several common misconceptions. The first is that people think that only some are creative. It’s in the nature of human beings that we are creative. The second misconception is that creativity is about design and marketing. What the TED conference shows is that creativity is central to the practice of science and business and more. Creative initiatives should help you find what you are passionate about. The third is that you can’t do anything about it. You can cultivate creativity.
Another great video of Sir Ken Robinson is from the London Business Forum (25 minutes). In addition to a funny story about his encounter with Paul McCartney he asks these three important questions:
1. Why is it essential to promote creativity?
2. Why is necessary
3. What would you do about it?
http://jump.webstreaminghost.com/wm/sfb/lbf_ken_high.wvx
For articles about and by Robinson, visit:
http://www.sfb.co.uk/cgi-bin/profile.cgi?s=65&t=5&a=9
And finally, more on TED conference 2006 from Kate’s blog:
http://www.mynameiskate.ca/2006/03/transformation_.html

Hi, Assaf .. thanks for the ref to my blog! Ken was amazing — I really want to read his book on creativity and education. He’s so funny and charming – but has a really important take on education. I hope his theories take off in the US & Canada. Cheers … Kate