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 3 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

The Scope

• This year 80 schools participate in the programme: 50 in Enquiry School and 30 in Change School programmes

• In 2013-2014 school year – 97 schools

• A total during the three school years – more than 120 schools

What is the aim of Creative Partnerships?

We create space for changeObjectives

• To foster the creativity of learners and teachers• To develop creative work skills of teachers• To develop a creative approach to learning in Lithuanian

schools – how to study?

• A space to explore, experiment and rethink is created• People draw on each other’s experience• A system encouraging to improve and learn in own

workplace is applied

“In previously conducted survey students claimed that only an actor, poet or painter can be creative, whereas now such words as considerate, evaluating everything to the last detail, willing to learn and teach, apt at organizing, patient, courageous, self-contained, discovering, sociable, active, intelligent, alert, attempting, fantasizing, appeared in the perceptual map”.

School coordinator

Changing concepts

Creativity is a universal and learnable skill

• Creativity is the ability to doubt, question, think critically, discover links, solve problems by creating innovation, work persistently in order to achieve the goal set; this is a universal ability.

• Not only the arts, but also sciences, politics, business, as well as human relationships and lives are based on creativity.

The Creative Partnerships approach to creativity – five habits of mind

IMAGINATION CURIOSITY PERSISTENCE CONSISTENT PRACTICE

COOPERATION

Is based on the intuition, connects

different areas

Wonders, asks and explores, questions the conventional assumptions

and norms

Tolerates the state of

uncertainty, acknowledges difficulties as part of work, dares to be different.

Acts practically, tries to improve, constantly works

on improving technical skills,

critically assesses and reflects.

Is able to work with others, gives and

accepts feedback, respects the

opinion of others, shares ideas and other “products”.

Creativity-based learning is active, experiential, reflective, leading to essential changes in understanding, skills and attitudes.

Creativity is recognized through specific ways of acting and practices continuously applied in everyday life, thus creativity can be developed.

Looking for practical solutions to overcome specific challenges of schools

“It is very useful when people not related to school come for a visit… Teachers say that they really need such an inspiration.”School principal

Teacher’s role and involvement is crucially important

“I can no longer work as I used to, I want to share, I want to do, I want to act.” School Coordinator

“ Having tried out certain activities, most sixth-graders found out what they want, what they like, they became interested in school in a different sense – it appears that here it is possible not only to meet friends, but also to do interesting things. ” School Coordinator

Artists, scientists, professionals in their field of practice go to schools and experiment as well as solve actual problems together with teachers.

“Creative Agent asked me a lot of questions about how I work with children, what methods I use, what literature I read, etc. I was working, looking for answers, thought a lot and came to a stage where I started to doubt whether I can be a teacher altogether”…School Coordinator

Working under

uncertainty

conditions

What type of school do we need ?

Aim of Creative

Partnerships

Creative Partnerships change learning space

Low 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

Planning and assessment tools

Work of creative professionals

Quality ensurance

This process is ensured through:

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

Teachers and learners together with creative professionals plan creative activities, which help to involve and engage, make students responsible for their leaning, instills tolerance and trust, brings together the school community.

“The project helped to understand what real leadership is, when all group members are included instead of an entire task being performed by one person.”School Coordinator

Only some are involved – everybody is involved

Involvement of learners

Schools are proud and want to share

Overview of the first project year

• 1100 students participated in 43 “Enquiry Schools”.

• 269 subject teachers, 150 school personnel employees and more than 1000 participants.

• 257 parents and other family members participated in sessions together with children.

• A total of 3000 persons participated in the project or otherwise contributed to it.

• Creative professionals spent with children more than 2000 hours.

The Second project year

In 2012- 2013 school year: • More than 3300 students participate in Creative

partnerships• About 800 teachers participate in the programme for

improving competences of the management of creativity education and creative learning projects

What shall we do for creativity

to become everyday‘s school

practice?

Creative Ppartnerships -

A gift to each other

That was a break through of all of us...