Creativity in IB programmes

By providing IB students with the tools to encourage creative thought and creative behaviours, our programmes help students to develop creativity and, in turn, to foster a commitment to lifelong learning.

Creativity is a key element of all four IB programmes. In the:

• Primary Years Programme (PYP), students are driven by their inquiry and creativity to develop deep understandings within their learning. A supportive teacher will encourage the learning process and acknowledge the play process to experiment creatively, towards developing understandings
• Middle Years Programme (MYP), well-designed courses enable students to develop not only practical skills but also creative- and critical-thinking strategies. Students are encouraged to think creatively in the process of learning. without fear of failure
• Diploma Programme (DP) and Career Programme (CP), students are encouraged and enabled to take creative risks and explore ideas – through both conventional and unconventional approaches. Each programme's focus on thinking critically and creatively enables students to analyse situations, revisit challenges, create possible solutions to problems, and be innovative.

Find out more about IB programmes. 

Peterson Academic Symposium 2015

The IB's Peterson Academic Symposium in 2015 looked at the importance of creativity in education, under the title 'Making time for creativity: Why does it matter?’'

Below, you'll find a selection of videos from the conference.

Speeches given at the symposium

During the first day of the symposium nine speakers discussed the importance of creativity, across age levels and across academic subjects. Their presentations were followed by an in-depth conversation held during a panel discussion involving all nine speakers.

Student presentations on creativity

The American school of The Hague hosted the symposium. Some of the school's students gave presentations explaining their personal creative processes in certain academic subjects. 

School-made films on creativity

In order to gain contributions to the symposium from all over the world, IB World Schools globally were invited to submit films showing their creative journeys.