Whether schools help or hinder creativity is a topic of vibrant, international debate. Some contend that the focus on structure, rote learning and standardised assessments associated with formal education stifles children's creativity. Others argue that creativity, much like numeracy or literacy, is a skill that can be taught, and educational…

Within education, the importance of creativity is recognized as an essential 21st-century skill. Based on this premise, the first aim of this article is to provide a theoretical integration through the development of a framework based on the principles of complex dynamic systems theory, which describes and explains children's creativity. This…

This paper examines the nature of creativity and the nourishing of children's creativity. One definition of creativity focuses on two of its aspects, of novelty and usefulness. Other definitions that stress one or the other of these aspects are discussed. According to M. Rhoades (1961), the four components of creativity are: (1) people--their…

While intelligence plays an important role in understanding human behavior, it is through creativity that we can understand a human's ability to cope with challenging situations in novel and appropriate ways. This fastback explores theories and research on creativity. Its chapters are: (1) "Looking for Creativity," describing six multidisciplinary…

The report examines cultural and social forces in the United States which discourage innovation and creativity. The history of American innovation is reviewed; innovation is defined as the process by which new knowledge is generated and applied in the material and intellectual operations of society. Effects on innovation of the changing economic…

This paper offers a model of the nature and development of talents, which views genetic factors as determining potential strengths and setting limits and views abilities, aptitudes, and intelligences emerging as a result of experiences, motivations, and styles. Specific talents are characterized by precocity, creative insight, a functional…