What do students learn when they do creative writing?

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference proceeding contributionpeer-review

    Abstract

    This essay explores learning and creativity, and connections between them in the practice and pedagogy of creative writing. Based on theories of creativity and learning, it proposes that when learners ‘do’ creative writing they ‘come to know’ – changing perceptions and gaining understanding in a particularly creative process of nowledgebuilding. How can we measure ability and standards of learning in creative writing? This requires defining what it is that we teach within the frames of our discipline; what students actually learn; and how we can assess this learning in meaningful ways. It also requires, from the perspective of our discipline, that we teach ‘for creativity’ – that is, engaging with the difficult tension between creative freedom and the requirements of learning. This paper is based on teaching undergraduate university creative writing. It is not a case study: it proposes to theorize learning in creative writing, arguing that the most effective learning occurs when students actively, autonomously and dialogically engage with their learning in suitable learning environments, and that creative writing is ideally suited to optimal learning. It also argues, however, that not all our students are gifted writers, and we have a responsibility to the learning and teaching for a wide range of learner abilities.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the 12th conference of the AAWP
    Subtitle of host publicationand is papers
    EditorsJen Webb, Jordan Williams
    Place of PublicationCanberra, ACT
    PublisherUniversity of Canberra
    Number of pages15
    ISBN (Print)9781740082736
    Publication statusPublished - 2007
    EventConference of The Australian Association of Writing Programs (12th : 2007) - Canberra
    Duration: 21 Nov 200723 Nov 2007

    Conference

    ConferenceConference of The Australian Association of Writing Programs (12th : 2007)
    CityCanberra
    Period21/11/0723/11/07

    Keywords

    • creative writing
    • learning
    • theory of creativity
    • Vygotsky
    • Maslow

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