STIMULATING THE CREATIVITY OF LEARNERS

Our ability to be creative is an integral part of one’s success in life. The holy book
reveals that every human being is creative in God’s own image and likeness, and
thereby each individual is distinguished by his own unique creative ability. As educators,
we need to stimulate this important gift within every learner. Let me propose ways and
exercises every learner should develop in order to be creative:

1. DEVELOP LEARNER’S IMAGINATION

Embedded deep within our hearts and souls is our ability to imagine things that
don’t exist and conceive things that don’t exist and to imagine problems and solutions
to those problems. Reading good books is a great way to develop imagination because
when you are reading, you are imagining the circumstances described in the books.

2. DEVELOP LEARNER’S OPTIMISM

One’s mood plays a big part in someone’s creativity. Have we not noticed that
good books or beautiful music are written when the author is inspired? One way to
develop optimism is to develop a thankful spirit. Gratitude is a key to optimism. Teach
learner to own a ‘gratitude journal.’ At the start of each day, for about 5-10 minutes,
the learner will write 5 things he or she, are grateful for. And be surprised how it will
affect his way of thinking in a positive way.

3. DEVELOP LEARNER’S COMMUNICATION SKILL

Communicating effectively is vital in stimulating one’s creativity. Encourage then

‘read aloud’ from good book for about 20-30 minutes, 3x a week for 40 days. There is a
magical transformation when your own ears hear your own lips and tongue enunciating
and articulating words on a regular basis. Your vocabulary and your ability to use those
words expand, thus expands your imagination too.
 The use of Technology in Aiding Learning Difficulties

Teaching is now part of our everyday life. In the field of education, technology
has become a vital tool inside the classroom. When properly used, technology can make
learners overcome variety of challenges and limitations. It can be a tool to level the
playing field and provide opportunities to students that they might not have had before.
Technology had the potential to provide bridge for special education learners and
teachers, allowing educators to customize materials for unique needs and personalized
instructions. It can enhance individual learning opportunities and enables great
flexibility and personalization.

In advanced countries, like the U.S, for example, often students write learning
disabilities would have to be separated from their peers in a regular classroom when
taking test. This situation is no longer the case. With the use of iPod, students can now
remain in class as they read the test paper, see the text on iPod screen and listen to
questions through headphones. The approach has led to better academic outcomes for
these students who receives special education services, it lets students test at their own
pace, hitting a button when they want a question repeated and continuing with the test
as they are ready. Using this device student’s freedom to take test without being
separated from their peers, which can boost self-confidence in school.(source. Bright
Hub.com “Using iPods for students with Special Needs)

In the context of Philippine Education the example above may provide us some
innovative ideas on how to maximize technology to address learner’s learning difficulty.
 VALUES, PATIENCE, TRAINING NEEDS OF SPED TEACHERS FOR BETTER
TEACHING

Strong values, lots of patience and adequate training are necessary qualities a
must possess in order to become an effective SPED teacher. Teaching SPED learners is
more challenging that teaching regular learner. The challenge is to provide holistic
approach in catering the needs of learners with various exceptionalities.

Feliciano Sante, 2013 outstanding SPED Teacher. He ranked 3rd among teachers ,
teaching children with intellectual disabilities was offered to go back to regular school to
teach but turned it down, saying he will never leave SPED and that – my passion and
love is already for SPED children. The challenge is in PSED, and the mercy for children,
students who really have nothing, ’Strong values like that of Feliciano can make a great
impact in teaching SPED class because it enables yourself to see these children as
learners with great potential which others are not able to see.

Despite the recognition, Feliciano does not point the job with rainbow and
butterflies, admitting even that in some days, he gets tired of it at all. But when he
thinks of the needs of the children, and if he stops, who else will help them. Feliciano
added, that is where I get my strength.’