“The Creative Partnerships”: we create space for change

• Aimed at all schools of general education of Lithuania, students under 18 years of age.

• Carried out by EDC, financed from the funds of ESF and MES (4,64 million Euro).

• Implemented by the project team in cooperation with 9 regional partners.

• Duration of the project is 4 school years - from 2011 to 2015.

• About 200 creators, more than 100 schools, 1000 teachers, and 4000 students participate in the project.

“The Creative Partnerships” – a project on a national scale

Scope of the project

Overall during 4 academic years more than 138 schools, around 9000 pupils, over 1000 teachers and 277 creative workers have participated.

Aims of the project

Develop pupils’ creativity, inspire, help them study and increase motivation.Develop teachers’ creative work abilities.Foster a creative view of learning in Lithuanian schools.Help schools improve, solve relevant issues, seek answers to modern challenges.Create a space for exploring, experimenting and rethinking the whole process.Improve the competences of culture and creative sector practitioners to work in education environments.

What was achieved during the project‘s 4 years?

An increasing number of pupils wanted to learn, gained confidence, learned to work together.Teachers found out about a number of innovative learning methods.School communities were strengthened, as were the relations between pupils and teachers.The environment and atmosphere in schools changed.The first Manifest for a Creative School was created.

What have I experienced during Creative Partnerships?

Pupils said:

• “I’m no longer afraid to make mistakes nor that someone will laugh at me. I’m not afraid to be myself”.

• “The tension is gone: rush to the last desk, keep your head down, rush out of the classroom”.

• “Here I’m not afraid to not wear a mask”.

Pupils said:

• “I was surprised by the comfort that suddenly appeared at math lessons”.

• “Now I can ask and ask as much as I want”.

• “I was surprised by the courage with which my classmates took on tasks that might have seemed silly earlier”.

Teachers said:

• “A child is not a soldier who can be ordered to reveal himself. A child has to mature for opening up”.

• “Thanks to this project we remembered what reflection is. We listened to the children and found out how they feel, what they like and dislike”.

• “I understood that children are remarkably creative, clever and adapt to changes fast”.

Echoes of the project in the media

What is creativity?

• Creativity is a universal ability that can be developed.

• Creativity is the ability to doubt, raise questions, think critically, spot links, solve problems.

• Creativity is the ability to work persistently to reach a goal.

• Not only art, but also science, business, politics and human relations are based on creativity.

5 creative habits of mind

IMAGINATIVE INQUISITIVE PERSISTENT DISCIPLINED COLLABORATIVE

• Playing with ideas • Using intuition • Making connections

• Wondering and questioning • Exploring and

looking for answers

• Challenging assumptions

• Tolerating uncertainty

• Acknowledging that

difficulties are part of the

work • Daring to be different

• Crafting and improving

• Developing techniques • Reflecting

critically

• Cooperating with others • Giving and receiving feedback • Sharing ideas and the ‘product’

The term habit of mind was created in the context of learning to learn. It means knowing how to behave sensibly in complicated situations, e.g., when facing a problem. The English professor Guy Claxton defined 5 creative habits of mind and the sub-habits that they consist of. Creative Partnerships are based on these habits.

Who are creative agents and creative practitioners?

Creative agents and creative practitioners are specialists who work in various fields (directors, journalists, interior, fashion and graphic designers, actors, sculptors, geologists, dancers, etc.) and, together with teachers, explore relevant problems which schools face, foresee further goals of the project, decide which creative process can help achieve them and undertake the practical implementation of the creative process.

The role of a creative agentCreative agents cooperate with school communities – teachers, pupils, management, parents.

Their main role is to be a critical friend of the school, have a different viewpoint on mundane situations, allow the school to see its mirror reflection, help understand where opportunities for improvement are, accompany it in the change process.

When working with schools creative agents use their professional competencies from the culture and creative sectors – empathy, an ability to spot alternatives, ask difficult questions.

“It is very useful for a school to have people who are not related to it visit… The teachers say they are in great need of such inspiration” (Headmaster)

The role of the creative practitionerCreatives, scientists and professionals in their fields go to schools and join forces with teachers and pupils to experiment and find ways of creating an inclusive and motivational learning environment, attain the desired changes.

The role of teachers and pupils

Teachers and pupils work with creatives to plan creative activities that help include and spark interest, make pupils responsible for their own learning, instill tolerance and trust, bring the scholl community together for action. They are the co-authors of the projects that are implemented.

Model for working with school challenges

External resources

ensurance of the process

All learning

Learners

Creative profesionalsTeachers

Creative learning

– opportunities for school as an organization and community

What type of school do we need?

Creative Partnerships change learning spaceLow Engagement High Engagement

CSDM CSDMPlanning Implementation Evaluation + sustainability

• Leadership• Curriculum development

and implementation• Teaching and learning• Employee learning and

development• School environment and

resources

A space is created for teachers to test new models of behavior right in their workplace

Curriculum content

Challenge/ problem

Creative process Creative

skills

Thoughts and insights

“Most people have creativity, but the school suppresses it somewhat, first of all by curbing curiosity and the desire to ask questions”

(Paul Collard, one of the founders of the project in the United Kingdom)

“Creativity is as important now in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status.”

(Sir Ken Robinson)

Emotions come back to school