Involving learners in their learning

Creativity in science teaching


This workshop was led by Stuart Naylor and Brenda Keogh of Millgate House Education. Brenda and Stuart champion a curriculum in which learners have a pivotal role. The workshop aimed to give teachers strategies for allowing learners opportunities for creativity in science and to involve them and their ideas more fully.
Video: Creativity in science teaching: Overview
Overview of Brenda Keogh and Stuart Naylor's workshop on creativity in science teaching.

Video download

Creativity in science teaching workshop - overview (31.7 MB)
Creativity in science teaching workshop - overview for iPod (5.7 MB)
Video: Creativity in science teaching: Workshop

Video of Brenda Keogh and Stuart Naylor's workshop on creativity in science teaching.

Video download

Creativity in science teaching workshop - workshop (37.7 MB)
Creativity in science teaching workshop - workshop for iPod (6.7 MB)
Video: Creativity in science teaching: Feedback
Feedback about Brenda Keogh and Stuart Naylor's workshop session about creativity in science teaching.

Video download

Creativity in science teaching workshop - feedback (20.8 MB)
Creativity in science teaching workshop - feedback for iPod (3.7 MB)

Key points

Some of the key points of the workshop were:

  • the importance to creativity of allowing space for learners to share their thinking and ideas
  • the engagement that comes from learners being allowed the chance to explore and investigate their own questions
  • strategies to engage and support learners in talk and exploration, eg the use of puppets to generate discussion and the use of concept sentences to support learners in generating ideas for investigation.

More from Education Scotland

  • Creativity

    Creativity, why it is important, and how we can nurture it in our schools.

  • Active learning

    Active learning is learning which engages and challenges children's thinking using real-life and imaginary situations. Find out more.

Related links

  • Puppets Project

    Examples of different ways that teachers have used puppets to engage learners in discussion of scientific concepts such as insulation, leading to inquiry.
  • Example of a strategy from 'Active Assessment'

    This particular example uses statements which are designed to provoke learners to discuss their thinking about forces in small groups prior to whole class discussion and inquiry.