CREATIVITY 'TEST''
We were introduced to this abstract 'test' when working with the National Association of Gifted and Talented Children.
It is an opportunity to create an overview of the creative risk taking skills of individuals, year groups and cohorts of students, and the general performance of children as they progress through education. Invariably the test indicates that younger children tend to be freer and more willing in using their imagination but as they age they become risk averse, having been trained for longer to work towards a 'right' answer, resulting in their creative output actually withering away.
The way to conduct this 'test' is as follows:
Do not present it as a test! Frame it as a 'challenge', 'opportunity', or 'an exciting chance to demonstrate your creativity'
Distribute the papers face down.
Read the script without deviation:
"On the other side of this sheet of paper is a set of seven symbols."
"Your task is to use the seven symbols in producing an imaginative, creative and original work of art or design."
"There are ONLY three rules, the rest is up to you:
- "You have 15 minutes- use all of the time given to you"
- "You MUST use all of the symbols"
- "You MUST give your work a title"
If a student asks a question about anything (are we allowed to..?, can I..?, do we draw it on the same side..? etc) then simply repeat the rules reading from the above script stressing the fact that it's up to them to make decisions.
Click on the image below for a printable PDF of the 'test' paper
