The Importance of Creativity
Michael Hannawald B.Sc., Physics M.Sc., Nuclear ChemistryPh.D., Astrophysics
A View from the College
April 16, 2019
Michael Hannawald
B.Sc., Physics M.Sc., Nuclear ChemistryPh.D., Astrophysics
The Importance of Creativity Part II
Our society has become more and more dependent on technology. Finding a job or running a sustainable business nowadays requires knowledge of computers, and often mathematics. But most of all, it requires a mindset to be able to solve problems, using creativity to come up with a unique way to reach a goal. Kauai Community College is in the service of providing the knowledge, the classes, and the personal dedication of our faculty to help our students navigate the waters of today’s life.
True learning is making experiences, growing as a person by applying that what you learn. That’s why language students go abroad, so they can experience the other culture, make friends and gaining new insight. The occasional “bonnes vacances”, like a trip to Paris to learn or practice French. Things you cannot learn simply from a book. To support this type of learning, KCC has active collaborations with several Japanese colleges.
Science and Math classes are accompanied by laboratories and practices for just this purpose. I have students regularly tell me that they only get the real concept of the topic by trying it out in an experiment. And nowadays students are fast with sharing their result on social media, showing and telling friends “Wow, this is so cool!!!”
At KCC we are serious about teaching communication skills, teamwork, problem solving, and the ability to work under pressure; all needed for a valuable degree. But we do it with personal connection, fun, and patience. Our STEM classes are small compared to other colleges, with a max of 24 students. We offer personal tutoring sessions to our students, and counselors are available to help. Our faculty take the time to listen to the needs of their students. Many of the classes don’t even require expensive textbooks because the instructors use open educational resources.
Besides learning facts and skills, it is important for our students to realize that being creative or innovative means you look at today from a viewpoint of tomorrow. When you think this way, you will do things in a different way, both personally and globally.