Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2024 - EDUC 850 G001

Creativity and Education (5)

Class Number: 5642

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 8 – Apr 12, 2024: Mon, 4:30–9:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Ching-Chiu Lin
    ching-chiu_lin@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-3630
    Office: EDB 8664
    Office Hours: by appointment

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This course involves an exploration of the concept of creativity used in educational theory and practice. Through an examination of philosophical writings, psychological studies, first hand accounts of creators, biographical and historical material, and works of art and science themselves, an attempt will be made to come to grips with some of the problems which surround this concept and thereby to evaluate views about creativity put forth in theoretical accounts and exhibited in educational practice.

COURSE DETAILS:

Students will engage with various topics through open dialogue and artistic inquiry to explore creative thinking, process, and production. The course is offered in a mixed format. Sessions are carried out as lectures, seminars, weekly readings and discussions, and group activities. Students’ final project is an artistic production/engagement along with a corresponding research essay. Students will present their final project to class by the end of the term.

Upon completion of the course, students will:

  • Understand the complexity of creativity from various perspectives and diverse learning contexts.
  • Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the concepts of creativity to educational and cultural experiences
  • Embed creativity into individual’s practice for personal growth and community development.
  • Explore, strategize, and implement creative ideas and action by engaging in the process of pedagogical design and artistic inquiry.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

This course provides a broad overview of the principals, theories, and practice of creativity at the nexus of education and society. An array of interrelated topics will be introduced and examined, including but not limited to: contemporary art, sustainability, leadership, social innovation, digital technologies, cultural production, and equity, diversity and inclusion. The aim of this course is to enhance students’ knowledge of and understanding about creativity in the fields of Education and the broader Social Sciences and Humanities. This course is to prepare artists, scholars, educators, social entrepreneurs, creative workers, and community professionals with a critical understanding of reimaging creativity for its artistic, sociocultural, educational, historical, and economic values in the society. Students will examine the discourses of creative practice and commodities in educative and cultural spaces.

 

Grading

  • Seminar Leadership 30%
  • Research Proposal 20%
  • Final Essay 40%
  • Final presentation 10%

NOTES:

  1. Seminar Leadership (30%): Students will work in small groups to present and facilitate a discussion on the weekly readings. Guidelines to consider for seminar leadership, include: 1) review the readings; 2) prepare discussion questions; 3) develop learning activities to engage the group; 4) facilitate the discussion.
  2. Research Proposal (20%): Compose a research proposal for the topic/project you wish to explore for your final essay. This proposal should be 1 page long (single-spaced; 1.87cm margins, page numbers, cover page, APA referencing). You will be required to articulate your project’s aims, audience, justification, and the possible impact.
  3. Final Essay (40%): The final essay (a combined essay and artwork) should explore a research inquiry in conversation with course readings and your artistic production/engagement. The essay should focus on rationale and articulation of your narrative, choice of medium, artist statement, etc. Rather than summarizing the literature, identify new understanding and possibilities that have arisen through your practice in the intersection of creativity and education. The essay should be approximately 15 pages long (double-spaced, 1.87cm margins, page numbers, cover page, APA referencing) plus images if warranted. Assessment of the final essay will be based on:
  • Presentation: Style, grammar (organization, sentence structure, paragraphs, spelling) (10 marks)
  • Incorporation of course content (10 marks).
  • Clarity of description, argument, new understandings (20 marks).
  1. Final presentation (10%): Please be prepared to summarize and present your final essay and/or artwork in 10 minutes for the final class session. Non-traditional presentation formats are welcome. Assessment of the presentation will be based on:
  • Quality and clarity of narrative (5 marks).
  • Artistic links with theoretical/conceptual work (5 marks).

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Materials: Readings will be provided in class and is available via SFU library.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html