In our quest to prepare students for real-world careers and challenges, and to equip them with 21st-century skills, we often overlook our responsibility as educators to inspire and create environments where everyone can be creative and realize their full potential. The latest edition of the course "Creativity for the Future: Promoting Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving in the Classroom" took place in Tenerife from 19/06/2024 to 24/06/2024. Participants hailed from across Europe, including Anna, Filos, Andreou, and Maria from 3rd HIGH School Thiva in Greece; Aurore and Stéphane from CLG Public Jacques Prévert in France; Philipp from Berufliche Oberschule Regensburg in Germany; and Iveta and Vojtěch from Moravian Science Centre Brno, příspěvková organizace in Czech Republic. Focusing on key competencies for thriving in the 21st century, attendees discussed learning and innovation skills, digital skills, and career and life skills, with particular emphasis on the 4Cs: critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Importantly, we explored through practical exercises how our brains and thinking processes function differently when faced with problem-solving tasks. Participants tackled a series of challenges designed to demonstrate how common obstacles to creative thinking can be overcome using specific strategies. For instance, the 6 Thinking Hats method was employed to practice "lateral thinking," showing how it could be applied to various teaching content. Through individual practice and peer reviews, it became evident that this method is versatile, applicable to any subject from science to language learning, and can also serve as a formative assessment tool to foster out-of-the-box thinking among students. Delving into visual strategies, participants engaged in activities aimed at stimulating students' creative expression, which can serve as a foundation for brainstorming or discussing ideas. We challenged the notion that "visual thinking" is solely about art by introducing innovative and digital perspectives.
In today's world, where students are frequently exposed to vast amounts of (mis)information, it is crucial to train their critical thinking skills. Participants engaged in reasoning, questioning, and debating activities that can be adapted to various classroom settings, helping students become active, discerning learners. To bring creativity and critical thinking into the classroom effectively, innovation often arises from reimagining traditional tools. At the course's conclusion, everyone had the opportunity to create a personalized display of their training and cultural experiences in Tenerife. Discover more about this course here. |
Welcome to the ELA Blog. Here you will find articles and photos of our courses and have a look at the topics addressed during the week in Bologna, Palermo and Tenerife. You will also have the chance to take a peek at our projects and check out what we have been up to.
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