3.3 Summary
It is easy to think about creativity in geography in terms of students making papier mâché models, performing role plays or writing a song or poem. However, too often questions, approaches and outcomes are tightly defined by teachers. Creativity in geography can be so much more: it is a process that may take place within a single lesson or over a sequence of lessons. As Scoffham concludes, students value subjects that:
spark their curiosity and encourage them to explore. Geography is in a prime position to harness this energy. Exploring different ways to promote creative geographical learning brings fun and enjoyment to geography teaching for both pupils and teachers alike.
(Scoffham, 2013, p. 379)
You should plan to manage students and activities throughout this process. Creativity can contribute to students’ learning by increasing their motivation and supporting them in their development as independent learners. However, since time, effort and risk are required to adopt creative teaching strategies, you also need to know how and when to be creative (Beghetto and Kaufman, 2013).