campaign: spark creativity in education   

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spark

/ creativity kit thesis project

Spark is a creativity kit for children in grades 4-8, developed to be introduced into the school system as an augmentation of the current school curriculum. The kit is meant to expand a child’s ideas of what creativity can be, (not just for the arts), teaching them new ways to think and engage with the material presented to them in school.

Spark does this by providing exercises and resources allowing children and teachers to look at their topics of study in new ways. It encourages activities that reach beyond the common ‘study, memorize and reiterate’ learning model. In this way children are encouraged to explore different ways of how to think instead of just what to think. It also endeavors to educate children on the topic of creativity itself, as well as the existence and value of different learning styles and intelligences.

logo development 

The logo was designed with the idea of creativity helping one to "think outside the box." This is why each illustrated version of the primary logo shows different types of creative pursuits exploding outside of the box. Each of the illustrated logos represents a different area in which one can be creative: the scuba-diver representing the ecological/biological sciences, the astronaut representing mathematics and physics, the equestrian rider representing athletics and the dancer representing the arts. The asterisk symbol was used to represent the literal spark of a flame in both the primary and secondary logos. The four sides of the secondary logo are coloured to represent the four main types of learning modalities. 

Components 

• Teacher handbook (1 per class set)

• Student handbook (1 per student) 

• Sketchbook

• Notebook

Kit objective one 

The first objective of Spark is to provide the school system with a tool that better allows them to teach about creativity and facilitate creative learning in the classroom. By encouraging children to explore different ways of how to think instead of just what to think, it allows them to discover their own creative power and potential. 

By teaching children about different learning styles and intelligences it shows them that it is okay to learn in different ways and that all talents are valid and valuable. The kit shows them skills and resources to accommodate the type of learning styles they feel suit them. By doing this Spark hopes to encourage children who may not be traditionally academically inclined that their talents and skills are of value. The confidence gained from this will hopefully encourage them to stay more interested in school, and pursue topics/careers they may otherwise have been discouraged from attempting.  

Kit objective two 

The second objective of Spark is to foster discussion around the importance of creativity, promoting and encouraging changes within the education system at a more fundamental level. The aim here is that someday the school system will emphasize creative thought as of equal important as academic, (analytic) thought. Objective one can be thought of as the short term goal, while objective two is more long term. 

Although it is not expected that Spark on it’s own will change how the school systems works, the hope is that it can contribute to the conversation for the need to rethink and restructure how we educate future generations.

'Spark' Poster 

The first poster on the above left features a quote by Robin Williams which was the inspiration for the name of the kit itself. I was inspired by the idea of creativity as something like a spark, the beginning of a flame that needs to be fanned so that it doesn't go out. Each of us is born with a "spark" of creativity that will grow if given the chance. 

Project information

Project done for:  YSDN         

Year: 2016 Professor: Zab Hobart

Team: Rebecca Alves: Teaching manual author / consultant 

Skills used:  research  /  photography  /  overall design  /  illustration  /  layout  /  copy writing  /  photo curation