Passion for Excellence: The Niche’ of Creativity in the 21st Century Teaching-Learning Process

Christine Joyce Quiambao-Roque

Education happens when there is a change in the behavior, when learning is meaningful, and when a connection between concepts has established. Creativity is the spice teachers apply in teaching, leading to students’ realization of their full potential; thus, they become contributory in nation-building.

Creativity helps improve the teaching and learning process because it helps the students construct their critical understanding and appreciation of the world through experiencing things and reflecting on them. When a person encounters something new, a person should reconcile it with the previous ideas and experience, maybe changing what one believes, or possibly discarding further information as irrelevant.

Teachers must be equipped with the competencies needed in the 21st Century; they must focus on students' performances and add creativity for optimal learning outcomes.

Hence, the 21st century teacher must know the students' abilities, needs, and interests. It results in providing differentiated learning experiences for holistic development. Thus, the inclusion of activities for them to discover new learning and be active participants in the teaching-learning process delineates creative teaching. As the so-called 21st century education takes its way, teachers need to be adept with the latest trends that could be contextualized in their respective classrooms. The only way to ensure quality learning is through quality teaching as creative teachers beget quality learners.

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The author is SST-II at Sta. Cruz High Integrated School, Lubao, Pampanga