Freedom and Creativity: An Approach to Science Education for Excellent Students and Its Realization in the Israel Arts and Science Academy's Curriculum

Abstract

The contemporary world of knowledge, characterized by an explosion of information and ways of communicating it, requires creativity more than ever in handling scientific knowledge. Thus, science education, especially for the gifted, must encourage the development of creativity. But, as creativity is not something that can simply be taught, we must create the conditions for its development. The main condition is freedom—freedom to raise original unorthodox ideas, freedom to deal with complex issues even when the student's body of knowledge is insufficient, and, most importantly, freedom to fail. This article describes, through examples, the main principles of the science education program in the Israel Arts and Science Academy and how the foregoing ideas are translated and applied there.