How to drive student creativity through healthy competition

“The competitive spirit is the driving force behind creativity…”
Deepak Chopra

Creativity plays a vital role in the development of student growth and critical thinking—and one of the best ways to spark the creative spirit can be with a dose of healthy competition. 

Educational institutions across the globe want to drive creativity in students. Creativity can enhance critical thinking skills, build self confidence, foster open-mindedness, boost emotional intelligence, enhance communication skills and much more. 

And through a well-planned and executed competition, educators can present students with the opportunity to push themselves beyond their normal limits and foster the creativity they all hold inside. 

By exposing students to controlled pressure and challenging them to continue regardless, competitions can encourage the perseverance needed to face real-life responsibilities. Competitions also compel students to identify unique and ingenious ways to approach problems.

How to use competition to improve creativity in students 

Here are 5 actionable ways to improve creative skills in students through healthy competition.

1. Set clear goals for the competition

To effectively drive student creativity through healthy competition, begin by defining clear goals of the competition. The competition could be aimed at assessing the students’ knowledge of a particular subject or creating a solution to an actual problem. Clarifying the goals of the competition helps the students make sense of the competition’s main target. 

It’s ideal to stress that growth and excellence are the ultimate goals of the competition. Encourage students to focus on improving personal records they may have. Instead of obsessing over winning others at all costs, concentrating on personal advancement will urge the students to bring their ingenuity to the fore.     

2. Diversify the competition

Students are gifted differently. To foster creativity in different formats, consider offering a variety of challenges to test their different talents and skills. This could mean providing ways to compete individually or in groups, or through different mediums. 

Competitions that focus on academics could, for example, be judged both on essay writing of the content or perhaps a performance-related assessment like a presentation. Sports competitions could encompass a variety of activities such as racing, swimming, weightlifting and activities for the disabled. 

A multi-faceted competition is inclusive and celebrates diversity. It further enriches the competition and urges students to explore their unique talents.  

3. Prioritise support

To optimally nurture student creativity with competitions, it’s important to provide a supportive and positive environment. Competitions can bring anxiety; to ensure students’ work shines through, impress upon them that any mistake or momentary failure is a learning opportunity and stepping stone to greatness. 

Collaboration is an essential form of support. Consider providing a collaborative space for students to share ideas with one another. Such a learning community gives them the opportunity to reflect upon their performances and experiences.

To further create a supportive environment for the students, consider involving parents or guardians. Communicate the benefits of the competition and encourage them to assist where possible.   

4. Assess fairly and give candid feedback

It’s helpful to implement a transparent grading system that’s free of bias to preserve the integrity of the competition. Rubrics can be useful here! 

An impartial assessment of student performance will spur students to give their best, given the rubric or parameters that have been set forth.  

Provide constructive feedback to give students a good idea of their strengths and weaknesses. Applaud growth and creativity, and provide ideas for improvements.  

5. Recognise the students

Recognition is ideal for promoting creativity. The prospect of being acknowledged and celebrated for their efforts will drive students to demonstrate their distinctiveness as much as possible. Recognise and reward the students using certificates, plaques, gift items and public acknowledgement. 

It’s worth noting that the recognition doesn’t have to be limited to the winners. The efforts of others are worth applauding too. Present consolation prizes and find avenues to recognise students in different categories and ways.   

Competitions aren’t just about winning, but rather an environment that fosters the drive for creativity. Use these tips above to power creativity in your students through healthy competition.