ICT in Teaching and learning: Theoretical Perspectives

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Promoting Creative Thinking through the use of ICT
Steve Wheeler, Sue Waite Carolyn
Bromfield University of Plymouth United Kingdom
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In this presentation...

• The Pilot Study
• Creativity and divergent thinking
• A new model of creativity
• Research findings

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An Exploration of Creative Thinking
What is the impact of ICT on creative thinking
in the Primary Classroom?
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The School

• A School with 41 Year Six Students
• Each child with a networked PC
• A qualitative study of activities and outcomes

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Creativity

• Creativity in general is the ability to come
  up with new ideas that are surprising yet
  intelligible, and also valuable in some way
  (Boden, 2001)
• new in respect of human history, or
• new with respect to the individuals previous
  way(s) of thinking

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Types of Creativity (Boden)

• Combinational creativity - combining old ideas in
  new ways, e.g. analogy in science
• Exploratory creativity - what do the rules enable
  me to do? e.g. jazz music.
• Transformational creativity - significant
  alteration of one or more rules in concept space,
  e.g. EMC2.

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Levels of Creativity (Wallas)

• Preparation logical and systematic examination
  of the problem space
• Incubation Subconscious processing
• Illumination Sudden insight (Gestalt)
• Transformation Verification of the solution and
  application to the problem space
• Leads to Creative Action

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Barriers to Creativity

• Teacher insisting on the right answer
• Impatience with dreamers
• Contempt for unusual solutions
• No time for questioning
• No time for experimentation and play
• Regimentation of learning through a rigid
  curriculum
• Transmission mode

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Creative Thinking

• Divergent thought
• Freedom of expression
• Incubation period
• Transformative learning
• Novel solutions
• Fun!

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Creative Thinking Model
Social Interaction
Problem Solving
Creative Cognition
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Creative Thinking Model
Social Interaction
Creative Action
Transformation
Problem Solving
Creative Cognition
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Example 1 Web pages
Social Interaction
Creation of Personal Web Pages
Problem Solving
Creative Cognition
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Example 2 E-Pals
Social Interaction
Text based Interaction
Problem Solving
Creative Cognition
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Main Research Findings

• Open ended tasks facilitated
• More learning styles accommodated
• Choice of learning activities (multi-tasking)
• Greater on task ratio
• More efficient incubation periods
• More exploration and self discovery
• Quality and quantity of work increased