Creativity in teaching and learning : a creativity framework

In the arts, as well as all curriculum areas, 'creative products' form an integral part of the learning process. The author of this article believes that it is necessary to focus on the learning process to ensure creativity is developed and not inhibited. The article outlines a distinctive framework to support creative productivity in all domains, which includes influences on creativity plus development of thinking skills and content knowledge. The author describes the influences on creativity, then analyses curriculum, content and thinking skills, which must be determined for each discipline, as each has distinctive elements and principles. The concept of a 'tree of creativity' is used to show how students can be encouraged to develop their understandings of how they can become creative producers. Ways of encouraging supplementing and complementing in creative productivity are shown by considering the attributes of creativity. The article concludes by commenting on the final component of teaching for creativity as being the development of the teacher.