Creating Creators

Too much of traditional school is spent memorizing information.

Instead, what if most learning time was spent focusing on how to create. How would our world be different if our learning system “created creators?”

A chapter inside Built for More: The Role of Out-of-School Time in Preparing Youth for the Future of Work titled “Creating Creators” spotlights the work of Dallas-based Big Thought, a nonprofit committed to empowering and equipping youth with the skills and tools to create their best lives and a better world.

The chapter begins:

“The term ‘Creativity’ has all to often been thought of as a label representing only, or primarily, one’s ability to create and perform various artistic endeavors. However, Creativity encompasses a much broader spectrum; it is not confined to a specific set of disciplines. Rather, it represents a critical and in demand set of skills and is an empowering tool for finding future success in both one’s career and personal life. We believe Creativity is arguably the most essential skill set needed to address many of the challenges society currently faces and those we will face in the future. According to the Gallup report Creativity in Learning (2019), Creativity is defined as ‘The ability to imagine new ways of solving problems, approaching challenges, making connections or creating products. Creativity is not based on a formula, but on thinking that relates to discovery and inquiry.’”

“The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report (2016) outlines the top the skills in demand, comparing the data from 2015 to the projections for 2020. Remarkably, Creativity ranked 10^th in 2015 and rose all the way to number three in 2020. Fast forward a few years and again, in the Future of Jobs Report 2020, the World Economic Forum listed Creativity fifth in the top 15 skills of 2025, marking the durability of this skill for the future. Among the skills ranked high than Creativity are, ‘Analytical thinking and innovation, Complex problem solving, and Critical thinking and analysis.” Referring to Gallup’s definition of Creativity, we would assert these are, in fact, not separate skills to Creativity but are the practical activation of Creativity. The World Economic Forum’s valuation of Creativity is not an isolated perspective, as numerous other sources make similar endorsements. These sources encompass Indeed’s compilation of ’20 In-demand Skills for Today’s Work Environment,’ Fast Company’s exposition on ‘Why Creativity is the Top Skill You Need for Guaranteed Career Success,’ and the Society for Human Resource Management’s The Global Skills Shortage where they assert Creativity is a top three missing soft skill.”

…

“In Dallas, the nonprofit organization Big Thought has designed and built the ‘Creator Archetype,’ a framework to redefine Creativity as a future-focused and forward-looking job skill. Throught its Dallas City of Learning ecosystem, which unites a consortium of Out of School partners and programs, we are deploying this framework through our Learning Pathways initiative. In this initiative, we envision the development of these skills being formally recognized and recorded through micro-crdentials, which can become valuable assets for youth we serve.”

Big Thought’s Creator Archetype is built upon five core domains: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Foundation, Academics and Artistry, Digital Fluency, Design Thinking, and Civics and Service.

Social and Emotional Foundation believes that creators know themselves and others. They recognize that no one is successful alone and they build up their capacity to be empathetic, collaborative, and self-aware.

Academics and Artistry believes that creators are lifelong learners who are relentlessly curious. Creators are given the authority to choose their passions and pursue more focused areas of expertise with confidence.

Digital Fluency believes that Creators are digital explorers. They take a balanced approach when using digital assets and can effectively navigate and employ both existing and emerging technologies to make judgments, solve problems, and bring new ideas to fruition.

Design Thinking believes that Creators are solution-oriented. Creators can see and understand a need, build an approach to address the need, and ultimately implement a solution; even if it requires multiple iterations.

Civics and Service believes that Creators are participants in thei communities. With visibility and understanding of all levels of governmental systems and power dynamics, they are able to navigate systems and be agents of change.

Stephanie Elizalde is the current Dallas Independent School District superintendent. Like most urban school districts, Dr. Elizalde and her staff struggle with too many low-performing schools.

Here’s a challenge to Dr. Elizalde.

Using the Creator Archetype as the framework for a new type of learning organization, offer every young learner and their families, currently trapped in a Dallas sucky school, the opportunity to build a learning plan, supported by an adult learning coach, focused on Social-Emotional Learning, Academics and Artistry, Digital Fluency, Design Thinking, and Civics and Service. Compare these kids’ growth in reading, writing, and problem-solving with those kids still stuck in sucky schools.

I’m putting my money on the Creator Archetype-based learners.

So how about it Dr. Elizalde? Up for a challenge?

Til tomorrow. SVB