When we talk about creativity, people mostly think of the visual arts and crafts, and then perhaps music, drama and dance. The problem for students can be if they don't think of themselves as being skilled in these areas, they don't consider themselves as being 'creative'. This can rob them of the confidence and sometimes the patience to build from the ground up.

But really, creativity encompasses the realms of the imagination, invention and inspiration. It's also associated with originality, resourcefulness and innovation. Creativity is not limited to the arts - we see it thriving in many other fields, including science, mathematics, technology and the humanities.

Developments in technology (such as personal computers and specialised software) have given students with and without arts-related skills the means to express their creative thinking. Technology nurtures creativity by bridging the gap for students who haven't yet developed specific skills.

Ideas about what it means to be creative have also changed. Look at the amazing smartphone applications we see, or interactive directories inside shopping malls. These are examples of creativity enhancing our lives. Even something as simple as inventing suitcases with wheels and extension handles is an example of creative thinking in design. In our classrooms today, kids have access to all sorts of amazing tools that give them the ability to turn ideas into creation.

These tools also give the students a chance to collaborate on projects - for example, even teams of primary school students are able to develop ideas into scripts, create animated films, record soundtracks, edit videos and create interactive whiteboard presentations for the rest of the class.

Through successful experiences with these types of technology, kids also see that 'being creative' is not limited by artistic talent. It's my experience that when students learn to be imaginative about what they can achieve with the help of technology, they're more likely to be successful in developing creative solutions in other areas.

There's another amazing thing that happens when technology comes into the classroom.

There have always been students who 'give up' on themselves, because they believe they can't achieve, and don't want to embarrass themselves in class by trying and making mistakes.

Many computer programs and games, however, are all about experimenting and trying to do things differently until you succeed. The fun is in the trying and students become so engaged in the activity that the concept of failure is forgotten.

I have recently spoken with a primary school teacher who has had exactly these sorts of technology-nurtured successes around the use of movie-making software. The class had no previous experience with video and was researching politics. The teacher got them to act out interview scenarios in groups.

The 'star' of the session was a child who normally had the most difficulty focusing in class. The transformation in this particular student was extraordinary and watching the finished video, I could clearly see a class having a great time with this talented actor finding his niche.

Not only does this experience give the students a chance to think of themselves as 'good at something', it gives them confidence to think creatively in other situations.

In 1997 when I started teaching, we had two computers in the staffroom with Windows 3X and '95. They had basic Microsoft applications like Word, which I didn't know how to use - or want to when I could write so much faster.

Now 12 years down the road, technology is an indispensable part of both my teaching and creative practice. I now use over 80 software applications (Mac and PC) for work and art and music-related tasks. My personal experience has been that access to technology has enhanced my ability to create and conceive things I would never have dreamed to be possible.