Why Creativity and Innovation Matter for Lifelong Student Learning

Creativity and innovation are invaluable skills to possess in life. Though often dismissed as “soft-skills,” these traits can help students succeed and create a true love for learning in the classroom. It may be tempting to believe creativity and innovation belong only to the artistically inclined. But they’re not just for the artists of the world. They can exist in everything we do—helping us become smarter, more original thinkers in the classroom, workplace, and life.

Common Misconceptions About Creativity and Innovation

Though they may seem like straightforward concepts, there are a few misconceptions about creativity and innovation:

Myth 1: Creativity and Innovation Are The Same

Though often used interchangeably, creativity and innovation actually have different definitions:

Creativity is the ability to generate original ideas, approaches, or solutions by thinking in new and imaginative ways. It involves breaking away from conventional patterns to explore what’s possible beyond the obvious. Some examples include brainstorming an essay idea, or coming up with a new business strategy to implement at work.

Innovation is the process of turning creative ideas into applicable solutions. It involves implementing new methods, products, or systems that improve on what existed before. Building on the previous examples of creativity, innovation takes it a step further by implementing your ideas into your essay and collaborating with coworkers so your business strategy can succeed.

In essence, creativity is exploring different patterns of thinking, while innovation is making those ideas practically valuable to real life. This is why the two terms are often used synonymously—because they need each other to thrive. Only with creative solutions can we change the world, the same way our ideas need action to be truly successful. Thinking about the two terms together is key to not only come up with original concepts, but implement them for positive change.

Myth 2: Not Everyone Is Creative

Another misconception that needs to get out of the way: everyone is creative. The Four-C Model of Creativity, introduced by James C. Kaufman and Ronald Beghetto, shows that everyone has the capacity to be creative.¹ (And you don’t have to excel at painting or write a bestselling novel!) Creativity can look like drafting a witty text message, finding a faster route to work, or putting a new spin on dinner. An inventive spirit exists beyond talent or natural ability and shows up in everyday life in many ways.

Myth 3: You Can’t Become More Creative

A common thought most people have is that people are either born with creative skills or they aren’t. But creativity isn’t some concrete trait like eye color. Rather, it’s more like a muscle that we can grow and strengthen. Research states that a growth mindset is key, suggesting that we have the power to develop our creative skills if we believe it’s possible.² When it comes to any kind of self improvement, a growth mindset is one of the first steps in realizing that our skills aren’t something that’s fixed, but can be targeted and developed every day.

Myth 4: Innovation is All About Big Ideas

When we think about innovation, it can be easy to immediately think of the people that transformed our world, like the Wright Brothers, Thomas Edison, or Steve Jobs. But innovation doesn’t always have to look like huge gestures that transform entire industries. Sometimes, it can simply be making things work a little better than before.

Take, for example, Toyota’s philosophy of Kaizen,³ or “continuous improvement.”⁴ When first introduced, all Toyota employees, from factory workers to executives, were encouraged to point out and suggest small areas for improvement in the company. Over time, these tweaks have accelerated the company into one of the largest and most effective automakers in the world. With the power of innovation, even the smallest ideas can have the biggest impact.

Why Are Creativity and Innovation Important Skills?

We’re all capable of both creativity and innovation. But why are they important skills to possess, and what are their benefits?

Self Expression: Creativity and innovation give us a voice. With these tools, we’re allowed to look at the world and ask, What if?
Confidence: Studies have revealed that creativity is deeply linked with self confidence.⁵ At its core, sharing our ideas can sometimes feel vulnerable when we don’t know how people will react. But over time, this builds inner strength, helping boost self esteem and become more confident in what we offer the world.
Persistence: Innovation can only exist if the idea is followed through. Developing an idea not only grows our endurance but gives us a sense of accomplishment. Having a completed, successful product also displays that you saw your idea to the end, firmly believing in its success. That takes dedication and grit.
Problem Solving Skills: With education especially, research shows that developing the creative mind actually helps students improve academically.⁶ By focusing on our creative side, its benefits can bleed into other more problem-based studies like math and science.
Career Advancement: By developing these skills early, students place themselves at an advantage when it comes to job searches. Having the ability to offer up new strategies for a company’s success is a trait employers look for in new hires. Leaders want people on their team who are curious, open, and always looking at problems from different angles.⁷

Are Creativity and Innovation Undervalued?

Despite all this, the qualities of creativity and innovation aren’t always treated with importance. We live in a culture where output is everything, where creative ideas may seem ambiguous and uncertain—and thus not worth the risk. In education alone, schools often place more value on measurable outcomes like test scores and class data, crowding out room for imaginative exploration. Not only that, but new ideas that challenge the norm can make us feel self conscious—because who are we to go against tradition? All these factors often lead visionary ideas to fall to the wayside.

But creativity isn’t for people who just keep their heads in the clouds. All revolutionary movements started with an idea, one that didn’t just accept problems as reality but courageously asked: How can we make this better?

Creative Reforms in Education

If it weren’t for the creative and innovative spirits, our world wouldn’t be where it is today. We need original thinkers to step up to the plate and offer their thoughts for the benefit of all.

Here are just a few names in education reform that transformed our schools and highlighted the importance of imaginative thinking and hand’s-on learning in the classroom:

Sir Ken Robinson

One of the most well known modern day advocates for imagination, Sir Ken Robinson’s three TED talks on creativity in education have been viewed over 100 million times combined. Robinson believed that our modern day school environment can stifle students, urging policy makers and government organizations worldwide to implement curriculum that supports imaginative thinking. Because of his work and writing, the conversation of creativity in education shifted drastically.

Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori was a leader in non-traditional education with her groundbreaking teaching methods centered on natural interests and curiosities. Montessori believed children are naturally eager to learn and create, encouraging hands-on learning and independence in the classroom. Montessori education is a world renowned alternative school, even producing more creative students than those in traditional learning environments.⁸

John Dewey

An advocate for “learning by doing,” John Dewey urged schools against rote memorization and passive learning, arguing for hands-on interaction with real life issues. With his problem solving approach, Dewey helped cultivate collaborative and innovative thinking in the classroom.

To learn more, check out our more detailed post on the education reformers that reshaped how we learn!

Helping Creativity and Innovation Thrive in the Classroom

Studies have suggested that the older we get, the more our creativity seems to decline.⁹ Though this could be for a multitude of reasons, relying on passive learning and teaching to the test in our schools will only lead to more disengaged students. So how can we create a classroom environment that fosters an inventive spirit?

Create psychological safety. Sometimes, creativity takes risks. Making sure students feel safe to share their ideas is the first step in a curious classroom. Uplift students for trying something new and avoid grading too harshly with creative ideas. Instead, provide constructive yet encouraging feedback.
Provide brainstorm sessions. Encourage free writing exercises and collaboration to come up with solutions for homework projects.
Mix up the learning environment. A flexible space has been shown to inspire more engaged, collaborative students in the classroom.¹⁰ For example, change up the seating arrangement so students can interact with different perspectives. Have desks be placed in a circle for discussion based classes. If the weather is nice, even conduct classes outside. Sometimes, a change of scenery is all we need to come up with new ideas.
Offer creative-based homework. Students can have fun learning and work their creative muscles with creativity-based projects and assignments. Let there be options so students can choose what appeals to them. For an English class, students could film and recreate scenes, draw pictures symbolizing themes, or write an alternative ending to the story. Not only will this inspire creativity in the classroom, but intrinsic motivation as well—giving classrooms the autonomy to explore their own interests and passions.

How to Become More Creative and Innovative in Life Beyond School

Sometimes, creativity and innovation can have its pushbacks. Enrollment in a rigid school environment or work culture can be disheartening, especially when these places put value only on outcome, like data and test results. It can also feel impossible to even have time for creative endeavors. But becoming more inventive doesn’t mean a major life change: it starts with noticing, reflecting, and being more conscious of what we can offer to the world. Here are some some practical ways to keep our brains active and creativity engaged:

Spend Time in Nature

Disconnection from distractions is key. Heading to the beach, the mountains, or going for a walk through your neighborhood can give your brain the space it needs to come up with new ideas. Renowned creatives like Albert Einstein, Henry David Thoreau, and Frida Kahlo often surrounded themselves in the natural world to reconnect with their creative selves.

Ask More Questions

Frequently prompt yourself by asking: Why is this done a certain way? Are there any solutions to make this easier? What are all the different ways I can view this? Questions can help illuminate things you’ve never noticed before, allowing a gateway for exploration.

Write Everything Down

Carry around a notebook or a sketch pad (even your Notes app!) to write down thoughts as they come to you. Being able to look back on ideas can help with memory and synthesizing to find a strong through-line for everything.

Follow Through

One of the biggest struggles creatives will tell you is the struggle to see a project through to the end. Sometimes, we can be easily distracted with the shininess of a new creative endeavor—but keep going. Finishing a project is key in true innovation!

Embracing Creativity and Innovation for Lifelong Success

Creativity and innovation mean thinking outside the box. It means finding new solutions to old problems, coming at issues from a unique angle, and tackling them head on. You don’t have to be an artist: inventive ideas can exist anywhere, and can be strengthened at any stage in life. But there’s one fact we can’t neglect: creative and innovative thinking can start—and end—in the classroom.

ERA’s Life Discovery class focuses on Teaching to the Test of Life,™ with a full module on creativity and innovation. With too much focus on class data and test scores, creativity and innovation may become stifled by the education system, resulting in passive, unexcited student learners. It’s up to us to help students truly succeed, not by accepting things as they’ve always been, but finding new solutions for change.

Join us in ERA’s mission to implement life skills in the classroom. By building a more creative classroom, we’re building a more creative world. Contact us to learn more about equipping students with the skills they need, so they can succeed in their studies and beyond.

References

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Karwowski, M. (2014). Creative mindsets: Measurement, correlates, consequences. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 8(1), 62–70. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034898 ↩︎
Toyota. (2024, July 26). What is Kaizen and how does Toyota use it? Toyota UK Magazine. https://mag.toyota.co.uk/kaizen-toyota-production-system/ ↩︎
Mercadal, T. (2024). Kaizen. EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/kaizen ↩︎
Crayola. (2024, December 10). New Crayola children’s study reveals a powerful link between creativity and confidence [Press release]. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-crayola-childrens-study-reveals-a-powerful-link-between-creativity-and-confidence-302326950.html ↩︎
Akpur, U. (2023). Creativity and academic achievement: A meta-analysis. European Journal of Educational Sciences, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.19044/ejes.v10no2a207 ↩︎
Wells, R. (2024, June 3). 70% of employers say creative thinking is most in-demand skill in 2024. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2024/01/28/70-of-employers-say-creative-thinking-is-most-in-demand-skill-in-2024/ ↩︎
Fleming, D. J., Culclasure, B. T., & Zhang, D. (2019). The Montessori model and creativity. Journal of Montessori Research, 5(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.17161/jomr.v5i2.7695 ↩︎
Kim, K. H. (2011). The creativity crisis: The decrease in creative thinking scores on the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. Creativity Research Journal, 23(4), 285–295. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2011.627805 ↩︎
Kariippanon, K. E., Cliff, D. P., Lancaster, S. J., Okely, A. D., & Parrish, A.M. (2019). Flexible learning spaces facilitate interaction, collaboration and behavioural engagement in Secondary School. PLoS ONE, 14(10). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223607 ↩︎
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