Creativity in the Classroom / Teachers: Sydney Hausman, Olivia Conti, Natasha Pokrajac, Gage Zichl

 

 Review Passion Projects

• Create content
• 10 questions
• Contract
• Answers
• Biblio
• Presentation
• Audience interrogation
• Add new questions 
  

I. Content:  

Antonio and his team want to live in Syria. A quick search on google provides the following information:

According to the US. Department of State (July 13, 2023), no part of Syria is safe from violence. Kidnappings by armed groups, unjust arrests and/or detentions, the use of chemical warfare, shelling, and aerial bombardment of civilian centers pose significant risk of death or serious injury. Check LA article Living in Syria. 

At a glance, it seems obvious that living in Syria is not a good idea, however, for the sake of researching the possibility of living in Syria, one could come up with the following questions.

 

II. 10 Questions 

1. How long does it take to get a visa to Syria from USA?

The time it takes to get a Syrian visa can fluctuate. For most eligible nationalities it takes around 2 weeks, however, there are longer delays for US citizens. It takes around 1 month for a US citizen to get a Syrian visa approved. Without the government approved security clearance, you can't travel to Syria.

 

 2. Is the US embassy in Syria open?

 

The U.S. Embassy in Damascus suspended its operations in February 2012 and cannot provide protection or routine consular services to U.S. citizens in Syria. The Government of the Czech Republic, acting through its Embassy in Damascus, serves as Protecting Power for U.S. interests in Syria.

 

3. Can a US citizen marry a Syrian citizen?

 

If a foreigner wants to marry a Syrian citizen in a Syrian Religious Court and register the marriage with Civil Affairs, the foreign spouse must provide proof of their religion and file for a security clearance with Syrian Intelligence, which normally takes up to six months, but could take longer in times of civil unrest and war.

 

4. What language is spoken in Syria?

Arabic is the official language, but Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, English and French are also spoken. In the wake of World War I and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, the region that became modern-day Syria was administered by the French. It gained independence as a republic in 1946.

 

5. What is the religion of Syria?

 

Muslims make up about 90% of the Syrian population, including Sunnis and Shi'a Muslims, and encompass a wide variety of beliefs and practices, including varieties of Sufism. The Syrian Constitution requires that the President be Muslim, although there is no official religion of the Syrian state.

 

6. Can you have dual citizenship in the U.S. and Syria?

 

 Although Syrian law recognizes dual citizenship, it also states that a Syrian citizen with dual citizenship is considered a Syrian first.

 

 

7. How much is the dollar in Syria today?

 

1 USD = 2,512.53 SYP Nov 05, 2023 06:02 UTC.

 

 

8. Are there no flights to Syria?

 

No airlines currently offer direct flights between United States and Syria.

 

 

9. Is Syria under US embargo?

 

The US sanctions against Syria are the most severe, as they affect third-parties as well, and amount to an embargo.

 

10. Is Syria safe now 2023?

 

Which areas in Syria are safe to visit in 2023? Most of Syria, especially the government-controlled regions such as Damascus and Aleppo, are generally safe to travel to. The rebel-controlled regions and areas still at war, are not.

 

 

 

 

I

Unit: Teaching

Theme: Mini-lessons

Introduction

 

The role of creativity in a classroom is to create a safe and welcoming environment where ideas can flow freely and students can try and test their own creative solutions, without the pressure of 'having to get it right'.

 

 

II

Learning Objectives

 

• Understand the importance of creativity in the classroom
• Explain what blocks creativity
• Gain an awareness of how teaching can be  more creative
• Experience the art of teaching in a creative way 
  

 

III

Main Lesson

 

1

Mini-lessons

 

Sydney Hausman, Olivia Conti, 

Natasha Prokajac, Gage Ziehl

 

2

 Creativity in the Classroom

This video illustrates how creativity can be used in a classroom context by supplying teachers with strategies to use creativity in the classroom every day. Through the use of interviews with renowned scholars in the field and practice based narrative, this video gives an overview of the use of creativity to enhance academic outcomes. The main message conveyed by this video is to have creativity as part of every teacher’s toolbox and develop the strategic use of eliciting creativity.

 

Segments & Themes Discussed in this Video 

 

Segment I: Why creativity now? (min. 0:00 - 12:20)

• Creativity involves newness.
• Creativity is a capacity everyone has 
• Creativity and learning can go hand in hand
• Creativity enhances subject matter learning and vice versa.
  
• Creativity requires for one to be comfortable proposing creative ideas.
  

 

Segment 2: What Can Creativity Add to Your Classroom?

 

• Increasingly complex problems
• Enhanced creativity improves standardized test scores 
• Teacher scan have a positive impact on their students
• What can you do to include creativity in your classroom?

Segment 3: What blocks creativity?

• Creativity stereotypes and misconceptions 
• Examine your own attitude towards creativity
• From theory to practice. 
• Help children to develop their creativity by being opened and supportive.

Segment 4: What can you do to be more creative in your own teaching?

•  Protect and support student's intrinsic motivation.
• Avoid competition and comparison between students.
• Provide opportunities for students to own their own learning
• Provide feedback.
• Challenge students to think for themselves
• Establish relationships between your students

Segment 5: What can you do to be more creative in your own teaching?

• Develop you own creativity.
• Use creative instructional strategies

IV

A Note to Remember

 

 Creativity motivates kids to learn. Decades of research link creativity with the intrinsic motivation to learn.

 

 V

 

Activity 

Students watch the video. After watching the video, students gather in groups and discuss the questions below and use their own words to answer them. Students give examples of how these themes apply to a real classroom environment.

 

1.Why creativity now?

 

2. What can creativity add to your classroom?

 

3.What blocks creativity?

 

4. What do you need to do to develop the creative potential of your students?

 

5. What can you do to be more creative in your own teaching?

 

6. Where can you go from here?