Publication Date

7-2024

Subjects

Creativity, Creative thinking, Skill development, Professional development, Curriculum implementation, Student assessment, Interviews, Questionnaires, Teacher attitudes, Student attitudes, Evaluation methods, Primary education, Secondary education

Abstract

Across much of the world, in more than 20 educational jurisdictions, the ability to think creatively is seen as a core aspect of what it is to be a successful learner today and, consequently, it has been included within various national curricula (Taylor et al., 2020). In England this is not yet the case, despite strong arguments being made for creative thinking being a core part of the curriculum in the Durham Commission on Creativity and Education (2019). In 2023 Rethinking Assessment and ACER UK conducted an exploratory study to examine the feasibility of integrating creative thinking into five subjects at Key Stages 2 and 3 – Science, English, History, Design & Technology and Art – and the benefits of doing this for teachers and for learners. The ACER / Rethinking Assessment research team designed a prototype assessment framework for creative thinking, in consultation with an Academic Advisory Group of global experts. Schools were recruited and participating teachers were supported through a programme of online CPDL sessions, firstly, to understand how to use the language model from the assessment framework in order to embed creative thinking into their curriculum planning; and secondly, to use three assessment methods – teacher assessment, student self-report and portfolio – to capture and evidence the impact in their classrooms. Headline findings from the study include: That it is possible to support, foster and evidence the creative thinking skills of pupils in five different subject disciplines across Key Stages 2 and 3, where there is active support from school leaders and where teachers believe that it is in the best interest of their pupils.

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Australian Council for Educational Research UK

Geographic Subject

England

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