A simple definition of divergent thinking would be: the ability to see lots of possible answers to a question. It’s not the same as creativity, which is more about the process of having original ideas that have value, but it’s long been recognised as a prerequisite for it.
A test for divergent thinking would be something like “how many different uses can you find for a paper clip”. Those who really score high might break right out of conventional thought. Is there any reason why the paper clip couldn’t be 20 foot high, or made of foam?
A set of divergent thinking tests was given to a group of 1500 kids, aged 3 to 5. If they scored above a certain level, they were awarded “geniuses in divergent thinking”. Then the same test was given to the same group again 5 years later, again 5 years after that. What do you think happened as the benefits of schooling took effect?
The percentages awarded “genius at divergent thinking” were:
- Age 3 to 5 – 98%
- Age 8 – 10 – 32%
- Age 13 – 15 – 10%
As a control, a group of 200,000 adults were given the test. The number of “geniuses at divergent thinking”? 2%
Sir Ken Robinson recently received the 2008 RSA Benjamin Franklin Medal, and he discussed this survey in an amazing hour-long talk, Changing Paradigms, during the RSA event.
I’m a huge fan of Sir Ken and I’ve written about his Ted Talk, Do Schools Kill Creativity before.
He believes that we’re now living in a world of unprecedented change, in terms of their character and implication, and that our best salvation is to develop a capacity for imagination and connect people to their true talents (through education). As the results of the tests above show, we all start out with that capacity, but we’re systematically destroying it in our children and ourselves.
Technology and population growth are not only draining the earth’s resources, but have also created a massive wave of demand for innovation, fresh thinking, fresh social systems and fresh ways of allowing people to connect with themselves and have lives with purpose and meaning. Our education system was designed for a different age. It was modeled on the economic premise of Industrialism and the intellectual-mind model of The Age of Enlightenment. We’re still looking at education in terms of academic (smart people) verses non-academic (non smart people) and from the viewpoint of economic utility. Not only is this inappropriate for the age we live in, it’s damaging to everyone that’s judged that way.
Sir Ken believes that parallel to the climate crisis of Al Gore, we have another global crisis in human resources and that it’s urgent and palpable.
It’s a compelling viewpoint, and Sir Ken is always an entertaining speaker. If you’re wondering if the school system is getting it totally wrong, then it’s a video that’s well worth an hour of your time.
Pic: School’s Out (Xiamen) by creativespark
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March 26, 2009 at 3:18 pm
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