UPAL Project 1 - COHORT VI - Group 4: Ryan, Ramon, Matt, Kalomo, and Walter

Ryan Creange: PROGRESS

The square that I have represents continuing to move forward in the face of adversity.  Progress displays the continual movement in a positive direction.

Why did you choose the creativity prompt you did?

I chose progress for the creativity and symbolism that it represents.  As a school leader it is important to keep your faculty and staff moving in a positive path.

Thinking about your experience today, what is 1 thing you want principals to understand about Student Creativity and how to foster, nourish, develop it?

Creativity is important because it fosters thinking.  The power of thought fosters learning and sense of self-worth.  Through self-worth, a positive, empathetic, and nurturing culture can be established.

Through the experience of today’s session, what have you learned about creativity for which you see a connection to the work of a school principal? Explain this in a sentence or 2 (or more).

I learned that the process of working together, coming to an agreement, and being able to compromise, are all very important aspects to building a strong working environment where learning and sharing can take place.

Ramon: AUTONOMY
My square represented Autonomy. Autonomy is an important factor within a successful framework. Within my square I represented an image of a megaphone which would represent the individuals within your structure having a voice and say in the organization of the framework.

As a school leader it is important to embrace the creativity of our students in order to allow for student achievement and growth. Creativity and Autonomy will also allow leaders to identify those variously talented students.

Matt: ABSTRACT

The square I created was a combination of the word “abstract” and the word “progress.” The initial word I chose was “abstract” because I feel like when being creative it is important to think outside of the box. Every creative process should attempt to create something new. In order to achieve the idea of something new an artist needs to begin thinking outside of preconceived notions they may have about the artwork. 

Thinking about your experience today, what is 1 thing you want principals to understand about Student Creativity and how to foster, nourish, develop it?

One thing I want principals to understand about student creativity and how to foster, nourish, develop it is that a student’s mind is precious. Creativity is a perishable skill and due to that it can be honed or subdued. Principals need to understand that creativity should be incorporated into every classroom on a regular basis. The more often students utilize their creative skills the better the skills will become. Principals that subscribe to this mode of thinking need to realize that creativity and artwork is a process not a singular moment of brilliance. Principals need to realize that creativity is lengthy process of theory, experimentation, rethinking theory, more experimentation, trial and error, and finally a product. If principals do not understand this they will be stunting the creative process in students and staff.

Kalomo: INGENUITY / ADVOCACY

The framework establishes a vision of excellence for school leadership that is aligned with high expectations. Furthermore, the model focuses on success for all students and the emerging needs of students in the 21st century. The framework includes four domains: Ingenuity, Progress, Abstract, and Advocacy. Each member of the team selected two domains. Ingenuity underlines the prowess and cleverness when school leaders solve problems. Advocacy position school leaders to subscribe to the needs of their stakeholders.

Student creativity is a space that yields ideas to results. As principals, we can provide students with a framework such as Bloom's Taxonomy to gather an in-depth understanding of their thoughts.  

Through the experience of today’s session, what have you learned about creativity for which you see a connection to the work of a school principal? Explain this in a sentence or 2 (or more).

Today's experience of creativity demonstrates how principals delegate task and tackle goals aggressively. Principals establish a framework with the leadership team to assign areas of improvement to team members.

Walter: Observation

Several images were captured and the team agreed on the single three dimensional image.  After several arrangements team members were perplexed while exercising judgments on each arrangement.  Two of seven arrangements were agreed upon by the team but the final synopsis of the arrangement has been attached.  The team concluded the role of a principal is three dimensional, therefore the paper arrangement should represent a three dimensional model of words

Process:  Theory, thinking outside the box in the eye of the beholder (open for interpretation).

Thought process was revived from the ASCA Model for School Counselors. Each team member came up with one word each then added a different word to compliment a three dimensional view.  Individual images were arranged to represent the abstract showing words abstract on the top held up by advocacy and ingenuity; which represents the functions of a school leader.