BY MANDE DENISBY MANDE DENIS

BS.EDU PHYSICS/MATHSBS.EDU PHYSICS/MATHS

CREATIVITYCREATIVITYCREATIVITYCREATIVITY

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DEFINITIONDEFINITION Creativity is any act, idea or product that changes an Creativity is any act, idea or product that changes an

existing domain, or that transforms any existing existing domain, or that transforms any existing domain into a new one. domain into a new one.

In order to be creative, one needs to be able to view In order to be creative, one needs to be able to view things in new ways or from a different perspective. things in new ways or from a different perspective.

Creative children are the ones who express unusual Creative children are the ones who express unusual thoughts, who are interesting and stimulating that is, thoughts, who are interesting and stimulating that is, children who appear to be unusually bright. children who appear to be unusually bright.

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DETERMINATION OF CREATIVITYDETERMINATION OF CREATIVITY

In determining the creative abilities among children, creative tests and In determining the creative abilities among children, creative tests and multiple non-testing devices are used.multiple non-testing devices are used.

The non-testing devices include;The non-testing devices include; ObservationObservation InterviewsInterviews Rating scaleRating scale ChecklistsChecklists Aptitude testsAptitude tests Attitude scales Attitude scales Situation testsSituation tests Interest inventoriesInterest inventories Personality inventories.Personality inventories.

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DETERMINATIONDETERMINATION Cont…Cont…

The characteristics and personality traits of The characteristics and personality traits of creative children may also be verified by creative children may also be verified by comparing the performance with standard comparing the performance with standard creativity tests such as;creativity tests such as;

Remote association tests (RAT).These provide a Remote association tests (RAT).These provide a direct measure of one’s creativity.direct measure of one’s creativity.

Torrance tests of creative thinking .These provide Torrance tests of creative thinking .These provide an indirect measure of one’s creativity by an indirect measure of one’s creativity by evaluating elements comprising creativity.evaluating elements comprising creativity.

Picture stimulation: members look at the set of : members look at the set of pictures and relate the information gained from the pictures and relate the information gained from the picture to the problem.picture to the problem.

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Remote Associative Test Remote Associative Test (RAT)(RAT)

This exercise is based on forming This exercise is based on forming associative elements into new associative elements into new combinations. combinations.

The more mutually remote the new The more mutually remote the new combinations, the more creative the combinations, the more creative the process or the solution.process or the solution.

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Torrance tests of creative Torrance tests of creative thinking.thinking.

Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) are tests of creativity which (TTCT) are tests of creativity which involve simple tests of divergent involve simple tests of divergent thinking and other problem-solving thinking and other problem-solving skills. skills.

They are scored on four scale includingThey are scored on four scale including– Fluency,Fluency,– The total number of interpretable ideas, The total number of interpretable ideas, – Meaningful ideas, and Meaningful ideas, and – relevant ideas generated in response to relevant ideas generated in response to

the stimulusthe stimulus 66

CATEGORIZATION OF CREATIVE CATEGORIZATION OF CREATIVE CHILDRENCHILDREN

Creative children can be categorized basing on areas Creative children can be categorized basing on areas where they demonstrate abilities, for example;where they demonstrate abilities, for example;

Art Art PaintingPainting PhotographyPhotography Working with wires, clay, paper, wood and waterWorking with wires, clay, paper, wood and water Creative plays for example role play and imaginative Creative plays for example role play and imaginative

play.play.

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CAUSES OF CREATIVITYCAUSES OF CREATIVITY

Creativity is caused by both heredity (nature) and Creativity is caused by both heredity (nature) and environmental factors (nurture). Some of the environmental environmental factors (nurture). Some of the environmental factors include the following;factors include the following;

Family influenceFamily influence ExperiencesExperiences Education and trainingEducation and training SocietySociety Cultural valuesCultural values

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CHARACTERISTICS OF CREATIVE CHILDRENCHARACTERISTICS OF CREATIVE CHILDREN

Creative children have a great deal of energy, but Creative children have a great deal of energy, but they are also quiet and at rest.they are also quiet and at rest.

They tend to be smart, yet also naïve at the same They tend to be smart, yet also naïve at the same time.time.

They are very curious by nature and possess They are very curious by nature and possess foresightedness in abundance.foresightedness in abundance.

They cannot sit still, unless absorbed in something They cannot sit still, unless absorbed in something of their interest.of their interest.

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CHARACTERISTICS Cont…CHARACTERISTICS Cont… They are thought to be rebellious and independent.They are thought to be rebellious and independent. Also, they may give up and develop permanent Also, they may give up and develop permanent

learning problems when they are confronted with learning problems when they are confronted with failure early in their lives.failure early in their lives.

They are very compassionate and have many fears They are very compassionate and have many fears like death and loss of their loved ones.like death and loss of their loved ones.

They alternate between imagination and fantasy at They alternate between imagination and fantasy at one end, and a rooted sense of reality at the other one end, and a rooted sense of reality at the other end.end.

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CHARACTERISTICS Cont…CHARACTERISTICS Cont…

They demonstrate originality in ideas and action.They demonstrate originality in ideas and action. Have preferred ways of learning; particularly in Have preferred ways of learning; particularly in

reading and mathematics.reading and mathematics. Learn from an exploratory level and resist rote Learn from an exploratory level and resist rote

memory and just being a listener.memory and just being a listener. Flexibility in thinking. Creative children are able to Flexibility in thinking. Creative children are able to

see problems from a different point of view.see problems from a different point of view.

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CHARACTERISTICS Cont…dCHARACTERISTICS Cont…d

Creative children show a high degree of risk taking, Creative children show a high degree of risk taking, delay of gratification, self control and tolerant delay of gratification, self control and tolerant attitude.attitude.

They are also characterized by fluency, flexibility They are also characterized by fluency, flexibility and open mindedness.and open mindedness.

Creative children also possess a high degree of Creative children also possess a high degree of keenness, attentiveness, alertness and power of keenness, attentiveness, alertness and power of concentration.concentration.

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CHARACTERISTICS cont…CHARACTERISTICS cont…

Do not get bored of doing things. Do not get bored of doing things. Creative children love experimenting with different Creative children love experimenting with different

methods in order to satisfy their curiosity.methods in order to satisfy their curiosity. They overflow with ideas some of which will never They overflow with ideas some of which will never

be developed.be developed. Provide a detailed elaboration of the concepts and Provide a detailed elaboration of the concepts and

ideas given towards a problem. ideas given towards a problem.

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EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF CREATIVITYCREATIVITY

Teachers should give children an opportunity to Teachers should give children an opportunity to learn from their mistakes and respect their ideas.learn from their mistakes and respect their ideas.

Teachers should give children a chance to see and Teachers should give children a chance to see and experience other cultures to help them learn to experience other cultures to help them learn to respect the choices of other people.respect the choices of other people.

Brainstorming sessions encourage children to tackle Brainstorming sessions encourage children to tackle problems as a group by freely expressing their ideas problems as a group by freely expressing their ideas with no fear of negative response. with no fear of negative response.

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EDUCATIONALEDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS Cont…Cont…

Teachers should identify good points learners Teachers should identify good points learners present and appreciate them physically or verbally.present and appreciate them physically or verbally.

When children show special aptitudes, teachers When children show special aptitudes, teachers should encourage them to build on and expand their should encourage them to build on and expand their skills.skills.

Teachers should encourage children to think freely Teachers should encourage children to think freely without adult direction, yet within the limits of without adult direction, yet within the limits of rules.rules.

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EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS Cont…EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS Cont…

Teachers should provide thought options to children Teachers should provide thought options to children to ignite their creativity rather than making all to ignite their creativity rather than making all choices made for them.choices made for them.

When working on a problem, a teacher should teach When working on a problem, a teacher should teach children to examine their surrounding for cues that children to examine their surrounding for cues that will help them generate a pool of possible solutions.will help them generate a pool of possible solutions.

Appreciate all the good actions and ideas of the Appreciate all the good actions and ideas of the children both verbally and physically.children both verbally and physically.

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EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS cont…EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS cont…

Provide children with time to play and fantasize so Provide children with time to play and fantasize so that they can explore materials and pursue their ideas.that they can explore materials and pursue their ideas.

Provide children with a variety of items from their Provide children with a variety of items from their surrounding environment. surrounding environment.

Expose the children to the benefits of experimenting Expose the children to the benefits of experimenting with ideas and objects.with ideas and objects.

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Creativity is a necessity in the Creativity is a necessity in the development of a country. development of a country.

Through creativity, people become job Through creativity, people become job creators rather than job seekers. creators rather than job seekers.

Therefore, creativity should be Therefore, creativity should be encouraged among learners in schools.encouraged among learners in schools.

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