Three independent divisions of a large public agency, each with between 35 and 55 members, were randomly divided into experimental, placebo, and control groups for an intervention emphasizing decision-making and goal-setting practices that promote maximum employee interaction and participation. Results indicate increased levels of creativity after…

This article describes one poet/teacher's program to explore and cultivate student creativity, intuition, and imagination through a series of visual, verbal, and psychological exercises. Visualization, free-writing, association, variations on other poets' work, and memory mapping are among the creativity exercises employed prior to actual writing…

Reviews theory and research on the relationship between humor and creativity. Briefly describes two Israeli projects aimed at encouraging humor creativity in adolescents and at teaching teachers to use humor to foster creativity. (FMW)

Four artistic people of various ages were interviewed concerning their conscious and unconscious thought during creative activity, emotions which precipitated creative activity and intermingled with cognition, and intrinsic motivators and rewards. The interviews supported research regarding the internal forces of creativity. (Author/JDD)

This study investigated 137 Venezuelan college freshmen's performance on the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking as a function of field dependence or independence as well as "field mobility." Findings indicated that the most mobile students performed best on creativity tests whereas "fixed" students performed better on tests of…

This discussion of creativity in preschoolers and its assessment examines: D. Shmukler's creative elements model; the importance of play in early childhood and its relation to creativity; individual differences including gender, play disposition, and language facility; creativity training; suggestions for the development of creativity; and…

This study examined the developmental patterns of and impact of societal influences on 11 highly creative female artists, ages 26-33. Results indicated that, despite negative formal educational experiences, the women generally had supportive families and at least one influential mentor. Art areas were selected at very young ages. (DB)

This interview with a gifted adult, Curt Dempster, the artistic director of the Ensemble Studio Theater, New York City, explores his career development, his suggestions for identifying artistic talent in children, his ideas about intensive training programs for talented children, and his concerns about the role of arts in contemporary culture. (DB)

The extent to which relationships and work practices within advertising agencies differ in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom and degree of similarity to practices of artists were examined. Responses from Senior Creative Directors at 303 agencies suggested that work practices did not differ significantly but were limited in efforts…

A Saturday enrichment program for gifted black children in Soweto townships (South Africa) is described, including development of basic numeracy and literacy skills for elementary students; work in English, mathematics, and science/biology for high school students; creative activities and excursions; interracial activities; and cross-cultural…

This article considers the nature of creativity in industrial and business settings, describes the Manchester (England) Business School Creativity Unit, models creativity in systems terms, reviews action research of the 1970s, and identifies recent areas of research at Manchester including creativity blocks and the impact of creativity training in…

Explores how teachers at the Creative Arts Centre in Calgary (Alberta) create, maintain, and nurture aesthetic learning in their classrooms. The Centre, opened in 1997, has chosen to value the creating process, primary to the arts, in the school curriculum as a whole. During 1997 to 1998, 55 volunteers (primarily students and parents) explored…

Discusses the Montessori music curriculum, describing a series of lesson plans to present a comprehensive view of music in the classroom. Describes selecting simple melodies, integrating music into the day, using songs to initiate deeper studies in all parts of the prepared environment, teaching singing, and encouraging children to write their own…

Discusses the connections between Montessori pedagogy and Brian Swimme's ideas of a human authorship of a connection with the evolution of the universe and a need to reestablish a connection with the natural world. Describes the ways the art of 11- and 12-year-old students demonstrates an awareness of these issues and a connection with the natural…

This article describes implementation of a creativity curriculum, Ten Lessons in Creativity, with gifted and typical students in elementary and middle school settings. It discusses creativity instruction as a bridge between gifted and regular education, ways that creativity workshops affirm the highly creative child, creativity and self-esteem,…