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The Da Vinci Method: Fostering True Innovation and the Critical Imagination in Education
“study the art of science and the science of art” — de Vinci
We need to develop creative human skills to prepare all students for the future. But despite increasing recognition of the importance of creativity, critical thinking and innovation, many educational systems continue to follow outdated models.
Students often face immense pressure to achieve in standardised tests, leaving little room for creative exploration. This approach leads to outcomes centred around success defined by grades, rather than genuine intellectual curiosity and creativity.
When I first started teaching degree students very few of them asked me whether the class they were studying ‘would be in the exam’, and only as we moved closer to the final assessments. When I came to the latter part of my teaching career, twenty-five years later, I was constantly asked ‘will this be in the exam’ at the end of almost every lecture and seminar. I do not blame the students or teachers for this. It was the result of the education culture that has put testing at the centre of learning.
I taught creative and performing skills to students. But creativity is not just for artists and performers; it is a vital skill across all…
