The 4 E’s from Creative Schools by SKR

Share This Post

Creative Schools by Sir Ken Robinson should be on every book list for teacher preparation programs around the world. Chapter 5, The Art of Teaching can be seen as a sort of primer to be referred back to throughout a teacher’s tenure. Cultivating a reflective practice is vital to one’s success as an educator.

“The job of the gardener is to create the best conditions for that to happen”

SKR often compares education to industrialization and agricultural development. The idea of a teacher as a gardener creates a very vivid image with which supporters of student-centered education can identify. Just like a successful gardener cannot control the weather, a successful teacher understands that they the environment around their students outside of the classroom will vary. But once the student steps into your space, you attempt to create the conditions for learning and connection. While traditional and progressive methods of teaching and learning are often pitted against each other, the art of teaching is all about finding a balance between the two. Teachers in all disciplines use a wide array of approaches, from direct instruction to immersive and experiential projects, to small group or even one-on-one instruction. You do not have to choose between traditional and progressive methods, instead finding that sweet spot where information can be shared and learning can be facilitated truly requires both. To expertly achieve this balance teachers must follow and fulfill the 4E’s: engage, enable, expect, and empower.

Engage – “their job is not to teach subjects; It is to teach students.”
Great teachers achieve great results by inspiring students and developing their enthusiasm for the content. This happens by facilitating conditions in the classroom that best enable students to learn. A great rule of thumb is that if you are bored by what you are teaching, inevitably the students will be bored as well. Creating a strong sense of engagement isn’t just about doing the song and dance, it’s about finding interesting and creative ways to present the necessary facts and knowledge.

Enable – “The teachers know that however much they have learned in the past, today is a different day and you cannot ride yesterday’s horse.”
Using appropriate techniques, in the right moment requires decisiveness, judgment and finesse. Effective teaching is an ongoing process of planning and adjustment based on the energy, engagement and curiosity of your students. Kids are innately curious. By stoking their natural curiosity, you can also stimulate their learning. Inquiry-based teaching can fill this need of cultivating curiosity. Instead of answering the questions you think your students will ask, inquiry-based teaching requires us to provoke actual questions from the students and offer them information and inspiration to seek out the answers themselves.

Expect – “teachers’ expectations have radical implications for the achievement of their students”
If teachers establish high expectations and clearly convey them to their students, those expectations are much more likely to be met. Vice versa, if a teacher expects their students to do poorly, they likely will. It is clear that one of the biggest keys to raising achievement is to understand the relationship between teaching and learning. Students learn more from teachers who connect with them, and believe in them.

Empower – “the best teachers are not only instructors. They are mentors and guides who can raise the confidence of their students, help them find a sense of direction, and empower them to believe in themselves.”
Empowering students requires a specific type of classroom culture. The classroom and teacher must cultivate habits and attitudes in students that breed resiliency. Regardless of the uncertainty or disruptions in the spaces students inhabit outside of your classroom, the classroom should offer a sense of calm, confidence, and creativity. It should be a safe space to take risks and feel supported even when they might not feel successful. Students who feel confidently supported have the potential to learn more efficiently, and find learning more enjoyable. When students feel connected to their school and are having fun, they are more successful.

I believe that these 4 E’s, should be a major component of every teacher’s reflective process. I also believe that these principles can have incredible value in business, parenting, and relationships. We will find more success and peace across the board, when we engage with the people around us, enable the right circumstances for growth, expect people to follow through on their commitments, and empower the people around us to grow.

Comments:

Sign in, or join the Revolution, to view the comments.

Ignite Your Creative Journey

Embark on a journey of self-discovery, creative freedom, and professional growth. Join our global community of creative thinkers, innovators, and pioneers. The Creative Revolution is more than a membership – it's a movement.

More To Explore

Article

Naming My Imaginary Friend: An ADHD Journey

Living with undiagnosed ADHD: A personal reflection on receiving an adult diagnosis. This post explores the realities of ADHD beyond attention deficit, including its emotional impact and lesser-known symptoms. It delves into the challenges of fitting a neurodiverse brain into a neurotypical world, while also recognizing the unique strengths that come with neurodiversity. In it I contemplate how we can better support and champion neurodiverse individuals, especially in educational settings.

Article

Imagine If: How Cultivating Creativity Turns Inspiration into Extraordinary Ideas

Curiosity is the engine of achievement, fueling the sparks of inspiration that lead to groundbreaking ideas. But what if we could harness those fleeting moments and transform them into a steady stream of creativity? This article explores how understanding and cultivating the right conditions can turn inspiration into a consistent flow of innovative ideas. Dive into the science behind inspiration, practical techniques to foster creativity, and real-world examples that illustrate the transformative power of imaginative thinking. Imagine if we all embraced our innate curiosity—what extraordinary achievements might we unlock?

Reclaim Your Creativity.
Starting Now

special offer!

Looking to Unlock The Full Course?

We’re so pleased to find that you’ve enjoyed the mini-course so much you wish to unlock more!

As a special thank you, we’d like to give you one month free access to Pro Membership at The Creative Revolution. Continue learning with unlimited access to all our courses, articles, projects, groups, events and more for free – and then just $36/month after.

We look forward to welcoming you to the community.

FINAL OFFER!

Try The Creative Revolution For a 30-Day free Trial Today
(… and get access to the digital bonuses for free!)

“Wow, they really want me to join The Creative Revolution!”

You bet we do! We genuinely believe that The Creative Revolution holds the transformative power for anyone, irrespective of their background or expertise, to awaken their creativity, elevate their potential and create a future for us all!

(Trust us, once you plunge into the depths of the Education Values Challenge… you’ll immediately recognise the exponential value of being a part of The Creative Revolution community.)

Usually, our policy is rock-solid: no free trials for The Creative Revolution. But just for you, right here, right now, we’re making an exception. Why? Because we’re confident about the immense value and transformative experience our community provides.

You can now secure a full 30-day free trial of The Creative Revolution! Dive deep into creativity, learn from the best, and take tangible actions to manifest your dreams.

But remember — this is your final call to leverage this unique opportunity. This offer disappears when you leave this page…

So, don’t wait!

Click the “Join The Revolution” button below before this offer is gone for good…

STEP ONE:

Register For 'The Educational Values Workshop' For FREE Today!

Put in your primary email address below to claim your place before it fills up!

FINAL OFFER!

Try The Creative Revolution For a 30-Day FREE Trial Today (… and get access to the digital bonuses for FREE!)

Wow, they really want me to join The Creative Revolution!”

You bet we do! We genuinely believe that The Creative Revolution holds the transformative power for anyone, irrespective of their background or expertise, to awaken their creativity, elevate their potential and create a future for us all!

(Trust us, once you plunge into the depths of the Element 7-Day Challenge… you’ll immediately recognise the exponential value of being a part of The Creative Revolution community.)

Usually, our policy is rock-solid: no free trials for The Creative Revolution. But just for you, right here, right now, we’re making an exception. Why? Because we’re confident about the immense value and transformative experience our community provides.

You can now secure a FULL 30-day free trial of The Creative Revolution! Dive deep into creativity, learn from the best, and take tangible actions to manifest your dreams.

But remember — this is your FINAL CALL to leverage this unique opportunity. This offer disappears when you leave this page…

So, don’t wait!

Click the “Join The Revolution” button below before this offer is gone for good…

STEP ONE:

Register For The Workshop For FREE Today!

Put in your primary email address below to claim your place before it fills up!