This book is about knowing when creative action is worth the risk and when it is not. This includes developing the awareness, courage, and confidence to support and take risks when it is beneficial to do so in the classroom. It also includes being able to recognize when certain risks should be avoided. The key is knowing when and how to take creative action in a way that not only makes sense for the situation at hand, but also stands to make a positive contribution to others. The aim of this book is to help you and your students identify the kinds of risks that are worth taking, better anticipate and navigate potential hazards associated with those risks, and maximize the potential benefits.
Dr. Ronald A. Beghetto is an internationally recognized expert on creativity in educational settings. He serves as Professor of Educational Psychology in the Neag School of Education and Director of the Innovation House at the University of Connecticut. He is also Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Creative Behavior, Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Div. 10, APA), and a creativity advisor for the Lego Foundation.
PrefaceAcknowledgementsChapter 1 – Beautiful Risks Chapter 2 – The Beautiful Risk of a Creative ClassroomChapter 3 – The Beautiful Risk of Embracing UncertaintyChapter 4 – The Beautiful Risk of Going Off-Script Chapter 5 – The Beautiful Risk of Planning Creative Openings Chapter 6 – The Beautiful Risk of Establishing Creative Learning EnvironmentsChapter 7 – The Beautiful Risk of Assessing for Creativity Chapter 8 – The Beautiful Risk of Using Creative Curricula Epilogue ReferencesAbout the Author
When all is said and done about fostering creativity in young people, it is the attitudes, values, and skills of teachers and other caregivers that make sustainable differences in furthering this precious national resource. The practical guidance provided in this book make it nothing short of the definitive standard for delivering dynamic services for promoting creativity in all of our students.