Avaliação da criatividade como condição para o seu desenvolvimento: um estudo português do Teste de Pensamento Criativo de Torrance em contexto escolar

A avaliação da criatividade tem sido uma temática complexa e polémica; contudo, no contexto educativo, uma das suas fortes justificações deverá passar pela facilitação de intervenções para o desenvolvimento do potencial criativo diagnosticado. Esta preocupação com a indissociabilidade entre avaliação e intervenção face à criatividade aparece reforçada no contexto português. Por um lado, o interesse pela temática tem vindo a crescer e o Sistema Educativo nacional assume o desenvolvimento de competências criativas como fundamental; por outro, constata-se lacunas na conceção de avaliação de criatividade por parte dos educadores e ainda não há um instrumento de avaliação validado a nível nacional que permita formações controladas na sua eficácia. Quis- se então validar, em Portugal, uma ferramenta de avaliação sólida no seu historial, diversificada na informação oferecida, e articulada face à intervenção, tomando a versão figurativa do Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. A amostra é representativa a nível de sexo e de zonas geográficas do país, contendo 348 alunos do 5o, 7o e 9o anos de escolaridade (entre 10 e 16 anos). Serão apresentados a metodologia e os resultados do estudo de validação, mas detemo-nos também numa breve apresentação do instrumento validado para que se tornem claras as potencialidades da sua utilização face a múltiplas competências criativas em contexto formativo. Concluiremos com comentários que partem dos resultados do estudo do teste para a articulação do mesmo com dois programas de desenvolvimento da criatividade no panorama educativo português.The assessment of creativity has been a complex and controversial issue; however, in the educational context, one of its strong justifications is to facilitate interventions for the development of creative potential. This concern with the inseparability between assessment and intervention is critical in the Portuguese context. On the one hand, the interest in the area has recently grown and the National Education System assumes the development of creative skills as fundamental; on the other, there are misconceptions about the creativity assessment by the educators and there is not an assessment tool validated at the national level which allows controlled interventions concerning its effectiveness. It was then important to validate, in Portugal, a reliable assessment tool in its history, diverse in the information provided, and articulated with intervention, considering the figurative version of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. The participants were a sample of 348 students from 5th, 7th and 9th grades (between 10 and 16 years old) and representative in gender and geographical areas. It will be presented the methodology and results of this validation study. It will be also briefly described the validated instrument in order to become clearer its potential of multiple creative skills to be trained. Finally the results of this study will be reflected aiming the articulation between the test and two creativity training programs in the Portuguese educational context

Perceptions of effectiveness about creative problem solving interventions: The Future Problem Solving International Program in Portugal

Resumo: O mundo atual exige cada vez mais competências de resolução criativa de problemas. No contexto educativo, várias intervenções têm sido feitas no sentido da promoção de tais competências em jovens. São apresentados dois estudos acerca de um programa de treino de competências criativas internacionalmente aplicado, visando nomeadamente alunos com altas capacidades (O Future Problem Solving International Program). O primeiro estudo ilustra o processo de criação de uma escala de avaliação de perceções sobre a eficácia deste programa, tomando jovens participantes (238) e mentores (128). Obteve-se uma escala unifatorial com boas características psicométricas. O segundo estudo compara as percepções avaliada pela escala criada entre mentores e jovens participantes de Portugal e dos Estados Unidos, com uma amostra de 576 participantes, não se tendo obtido diferenças estatisticamente significativas em tais percepções. Os resultados de ambos estudos são discutidos quer no contexto da literatura existente, quer visando investigações futuras de avaliação controlada de experiências de intervenção com este ou com outros programasThe present world increasingly requires creative problem solving skills. In the educational context, several interventions have been done in order to promote such competences in young people. Authors describe two studies on a training program of creative skills internationally applied with particular reference to students with high capacities (The Future Problem Solving Program International). The first study illustrates the process of creating a scale to assess the perceptions of the effectiveness of this program, regarding young participants (238) and mentors (128). A single factor scale was obtained with good psychometric characteristics. In the second study the perceptions of mentors and young participants from Portugal and from the United States were assessed with the obtained scale and compared. The sample was composed by a total of 576 participants and there were no statistically significant differences between those perceptions. Results from both studies are discussed either in terms of literature context or in view of further research of controlled evaluation of intervention experiences using this or other programs

O future problem solving program internacional (FPSPI) como um possível instrumento interventivo na sobredotação: caracterização do programa

O FPSPI- Future Problem Solving Program International é um programa educativo, internacionalmente validado, visando o desenvolvimento de competências de resolução de problemas (em crianças, jovens e nos aplicadores do programa), tais como o pensamento criativo, pensamento crítico e analítico, comunicação oral e escrita, trabalho em equipa, gestão emocional e tomada de decisão. Paralelamente, promove no contexto escolar a motivação para a aprendizagem, o rendimento escolar, o papel ativo do aluno e o envolvimento da (e na) comunidade. Em termos práticos, o desenvolvimento acontece dando aos participantes oportunidades de exercitar tais competências enquanto exploram temas relacionados com o futuro. Apesar de não ser um programa de intervenção especificamente dirigido a sobredotados, internacionalmente tem vindo a ser adotado como um dos instrumentos que vão ao encontro da necessidade formativa deste grupo. Pretende-se então contextualizar e apresentar tal programa, sumariamente, sensibilizando ainda para resultados positivos da sua aplicação.Abstract The FPSPI-­‐Future Problem Solving Program International is an educational program with international validation and oriented to the development of creative problem solving skills in participants (pre-­‐adolescents and adolescents) and mentors (adults). These skills include creative, critical and analytical thought, communication, emotions and decision making. FPSP also promotes learning motivation and scholarly achievement through the active role of the pupils and their engagement in the community. This development of skills results from a problem solving process that challenges participants to face problems creatively and with a futuristic approach. It is not a specific program oriented to gifted people, but it has been adopted internationally as an useful tool in order to address psychological characteristics frequently related to this population. This paper will present some guidelines about foundations, goals and methodology inherent to the program and will underline some positive results of its applicatio

Educating adolescents for innovation and the future: the Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) as an intervention scenario

Não há futuro, ou mesmo presente, sem criatividade e inovação – referem variados autores na atualidade. O contexto educativo deverá ser, por excelência, o espaço para uma aposta intencional e sistemática na promoção de competências criativas, críticas e voltadas para os desafios do futuro. A apresentação do Future Problem Solving Program International - programa promotor dos pensamentos criativo, crítico e futurista, já internacionalmente aplicado e validado - poderá então sensibilizar os educadores para as dimensões psicossociais rentabilizáveis através do mesmo e que estão muito em causa no desenvolvimento de pré-adolescentes e adolescentes. A apresentação, após uma contextualização acerca da relevância da educação para o futuro, contemplará a fundamentação e a aplicação prática do programa. Espera-se enriquecer o trabalho de educadores e orientar práticas educativas futuras, formais e não formaisNo hay futuro, ni presente, sin la creatividad y la innovación - se refieren varios autores hoy. El contexto educativo debería ser por excelencia el espacio para un compromiso intencional y sistemático para promover las habilidades creativas, críticas y frente a los retos del futuro. La presentación del Future Problem Solving Program International - programa promotor de los pensamientos creativo, crítico y futurista que se aplica y es validado internacionalmente - puede entonces sensibilizar a educadores para rentabilizar dimensiones psicosociales a través de él , dimensiones muy presentes en el desarrollo de los pre-adolescentes y adolescentes. La presentación, después de una contextualizació a de la pertinencia de la educación para el futuro, se ocupará de los fundamentos y de la aplicación práctica del programa. Es esperado que con esta contribución se pueda mejorar el trabajo de los educadores y orientar prácticas educativas futuras, tanto formales como informales.There is no future, or present, without creativity and innovation - various authors refer to it today. The educational context should be particularly a space for an intentional and systematic commitment to promote creative and critical skills, as to face challenges of the future. The presentation of the Future Problem Solving Program International – program which promotes creative, critical and futuristic thinking, already internationally applied and validated - can then raise awareness among educators for psychosocial dimensions promoted through it, dimensions related to the development of pre-teens and adolescents. The presentation of this program, after providing a background about the relevance of education for the future, will address its theoretical framework and the practical implementation guidelines. It is expected to enhance the work of educators and to guide future educational practices, both formal and informal

Creativity and teaching practices in Higher Education: how do students of different academic areas think?

A criatividade é um requisito para a inovação. É então fundamental a sua presença face aos desafios atuais e o Ensino Superior é um contexto privilegiado para a preparação de cidadãos gestores de tais desafios. Como o docente assume um papel relevante na promoção de competências e de comportamentos nos alunos, o estudo da presença de criatividade nas práticas docentes universitárias tem surgido como relevante, sendo uma das fontes desta pesquisa a auscultação dos alunos. Por seu lado, áreas curriculares diferentes implicam competências e expectativas diferentes, espelhando-se essas diferenças nas perceções dos estudantes. Neste estudo, quis-se analisar como 582 alunos universitários percecionam as práticas docentes de que são alvo e valorizam o conceito de criatividade no Ensino Superior, em função de três áreas curriculares (Artes e Humanidades; Ciências e Tecnologias; Ciências Sociais e Humanas). Usou-se o Inventário de Práticas Docentes (versão adaptada a Portugal) e um questionário sobre a valorização da criatividade na universidade. Diferenças significativas emergiram em ambos os instrumentos. A discussão de tais resultados pode indiciar dificuldades e potencialidades a trabalhar no quotidiano do Ensino Superior.La creatividad es un requisito previo para la innovación. Es entonces esencial para su presencia en los retos actuales y la Educación Superior es un terreno privilegiado para la preparación de ciudadanos que gestionam esos desafíos. A medida que el docente juega un papel importante en la promoción de habilidades y comportamientos en los estudiantes, el estudio de la presencia de la creatividad en las prácticas docentes universitarias se ha convertido en relevante, siendo la auscultación de los estudiantes una de las fuentes pra esta investigación. Por su parte, las diferentes áreas curriculares requieren diferentes habilidades y expectativas con reflejo de estas diferencias en las percepciones de los estudiantes. En este estudio, querasse analizar cómo 582 estudiantes universitarios percecionam creatividad en las prácticas de enseñanza y la valorizacíon del concepto de la creatividad en la educación superior, de acuerdo con tres áreas curriculares (Artes y Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnología, Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales). Utilizó el Inventario de Prácticas Docentes (versión adaptada a Portugal ) y un cuestionario para valorar la creatividad en la universidad. Surgieron diferencias significativas en ambos instrumentos. La discusión de estos resultados puede indicar dificultades y posibilidades de trabajo en la educación superior cotidiana.Creativity is a prerequisite for innovation. It is then essential its presence facing current challenges and Higher Education is a privileged context for preparing citizens in managing those challenges. As the teacher plays an important role in promoting skills and behaviors in students, the study of the presence of creativity in university teaching practices has emerged as relevant, being students perceptions one of the sources of this research. Students perceptions mirror the diversity of skills and expectations required for different curriculum areas. This study wish to consider the teaching practices perceptions of 582 university students and how they value the concept of creativity in higher education, according to three curriculum areas (Arts and Humanities, Science and Technology, Social and Human Sciences). It was used the Teaching Practice Inventory (version adapted to Portugal) and a questionnaire assessing the value of creativity in the university. Significant differences were found in both instruments. Result discussion may indicate difficulties and capabilities to put into practice daily in higher education

The Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI): a challenge for creative citizens

Series: Research papers on knowledge, innovation and enterprise, vol. 4The Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) is an educational program for the development of creative skills, especially in children and young people (Future Problem Solving Program International, FPSPI, n.d). At the same time, it promotes critical, analytical and futuristic thinking, oral and written communication, teamwork, as well as emotional and decision making skills (FPSPI, n.d.). It is thus an educational tool that can be applied in many contexts, formal and informal, in order to promote creative problem solving skills. The stated mission of the FPSPI is “to develop the ability of young people globally to design and promote positive futures through problem solving using critical & creative thinking” (FPSPI, n.d.). It is designed to involve young people in thinking about the future and its challenges and unpredictability in all domains, including arts, technology and sciences. This program, based on futuristic thinking and the Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving method (Osborn, 1953; Parnes, 1967; Parnes, Noller, & Biondi, 1977), begins with problem finding and definition and ends with a proposal for an effective and original solution. Begun by Torrance in the U.S. in 1974, the program is currently applied in countries from every continent. This chapter will present this program in detail, illustrating its goals, application methodology and agents. It will also share results obtained in several studies about the program and its effectiveness, thereby, raising awareness of the potential of its application for creative problem solutions in various contexts

Cognitive dimensions of creativity: What makes the difference between creative and non creative university students?

This paper analyses the contribution of specific cognitive functions on creative performance. The main question was which cognitive variables differentiate extreme levels of creative performance and therefore can characterize highly creative college students. A sample of Portuguese university students of Fine Arts and Literature (n=166) took part in this study. A battery of verbal and figural cognitive tasks, as well as two kinds of creative tasks (text and poster production) have been considered. Results showed that there were mostly the same cognitive dimensions (figurative reasoning, divergent thinking, insight problem solving, and problem-finding), which differentiate extreme levels of creative performance in both text and poster productions. These results are discussed considering the relevance of the cognitive approach to explain creativity. Some practical ideas, possible to put into the educational context, are also discussed.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Inventory of barriers to personal creativity: a validation study involving university students

This study presents the adaptation and validation for Portugal of the Inventory of Barriers to Personal Creativity (Alencar, 1999). The sample was composed of 582 university students whose ages ranged from 18 to 59 (M=23.41; SD=5.38), from three domains of courses (Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences and Technologies). An exploratory factor analysis identified the four factors included in the original questionnaire: Inhibition /Shyness, Lack of Motivation, Lack of Time and Opportunities, and Social Repression. The psychometric properties of the instrument are adequate, concerning reliability and validity, for items and the four dimension

Perceptions of barriers to personal creativity: validation of an inventory involving high education students

The topic of creativity in higher education has been increasingly emphasized as support to the social and technological innovation. This study presents the adaptation and validation of the Inventory of Barriers to Personal Creativity (Alencar, 1999) for Portuguese college students. The sample was composed by 582 students from a public university in Northern Portugal, whose ages ranged from 18 to 59 (M=23.41; SD=5.38), belonging to three main domains of graduation courses (Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences and Technologies). An exploratory factor analysis identified the four factors included in the original questionnaire: Inhibition/Shyness, Lack of Motivation, Lack of Time and Opportunities, and Social Repression. The psychometric properties of the instrument are adequate, concerning internal consistency reliability and structural validity, for items and the four dimensions. Some guidelines are provided in order to use this questionnaire in future researches to increase the levels of creativity in teaching and learning processes in higher education