Creativity in learning is far more than painting keywords, dancing times tables or role playing the periodic table. These are very valuable activities but creativity in learning goes much further: creative thinking, creative problem solving, building a creative learning environment and the nurturing of a creative learning community.

Creativity is the process of making something that hasn't been made before - be it a painting, an idea, a solution, a relationship or a new dance move. It is a set of beliefs and attitudes as much as it is a toolbox of skills and knowledge.  A creative outlook leads naturally to high quality classroom activities carried out by creative learners.

Here's a great example of creative teamwork on flipchart.

Each person in a group of 6 reads a different article and summarises it in a space around the outside.

Then, in turn, they teach each other what they've just read and noted down.

When everyone's had a turn they respond by writing in the doughnut.

Finally, the group summarises their learning in the centre. They have created new, shared learning.

12 principles of creativity are:

• A belief that creative potential is inside everyone and can be found everywhere
• A belief that creativity can change things and improve things
• A belief that mistakes are to be celebrated, learned from and used
• A belief that creativity can be a natural response to pain, suffering and boredom
• An attitude of positivity towards surprising and unexpected events
• An attitude of openness to new ideas and experiences when they appear
• An attitude of ‘smart risk-taking’
• An attitude of non-judgement
• An ability to actively seek out new ideas and experiences
• An ability to see familiar things in new and different ways
• An ability to use both analytic and holistic thinking
• An ability to make, think or do things that haven’t been made, thought or done before