The most serious blocks to creative thinking are viewed as psychological in nature. These obstacles are the hardest to recognize and overcoming them requires changing basic personality traits that have been years in the making. Tips on how individuals can gather self-knowledge and express individuality and creativity are given. (MP)

Creative thinking and problem solving processes were studied in 233 gifted elementary students. (Author/DLS)

This article criticizes classroom traditions and environmental factors that serve to limit and impair students' creativity. Steps required for a more creative classroom are discussed, including adequate "think time," conducive supplies and surroundings, a risk-free environment, empowerment to think independently, and teachers who model creative…

Eleven professionals participated in a weekend workshop called "Planned Spontaneity." Using techniques of group mental imagery, the group focused on ways of empowering individuals in educational settings to increase their use of creative mental capacities. The group agenda, activities, process, and resulting product are described. (JW)

This article describes the development of a metaphorical whole brain model and its application to Applied Creative Thinking (ACT) Workshops to enhance individuals' capability for full creative functioning. The design of ACT workshops, the learning model used, and workshop components are described. (JDD)

Seven principles are presented for improving creative thinking, based on assumptions of creativity as a perceptual shift resulting from a metamorphic mental image. Principles include (1) the future initiates and pulls creative thought; (2) initial fact finding is best postponed; (3) problem redefinition is often retrospective; and (4) metaphors…

This introductory article discusses a blind-variation and selective-retention model of the creative process developed by Donald Campbell. According to Campbell, creativity contains three conditions: a mechanism for introducing variation, a consistent selection process, and a mechanism for preserving and reproducing selected variations. (Author/CR)

This manual presents instructional design strategies and sample student activities for creative problem solving. The ideas and suggestions are intended to support both students' mathematical attainment and their development of creative ability. The book begins with an introduction followed by discussions of unit design strategies and activity…

Creativity is a process of thinking and doing; adults can encourage this important life skill in young children by encouraging them to embrace new ways of looking at things. This guide, part of the "Seeds for Success" series, provides advice for parents for encouraging creativity in children in a variety of areas by means of nearly 100 simple…

The paper examines the nature of creativity and blockages to its expression especially in home and school settings in South Africa. A definition of creativity is offered which stresses the production of an original outcome or achievement. The creative process is broken down into the steps of preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification.…

Briefly summarized in this literature review are definitions of curriculum, creativity, the creative process, the creative teacher, creative teaching, and creative adults and children. The curriculum as it relates to creativity and pertinent research on curriculum structure are also described. Lists of 9 obstacles to creativity and 12 aids to…

The booklet considers the nature of creativity in children and examines classroom implications. Among the topics addressed are the following: theories about creativity; research; developments in brain research; the creative process; creative problem solving; the Structure of Intellect Problem Solving (SIPS) model; a rationale for creativity in the…

This paper has reviewed knowledge to date on parental antecedents of "creativity" or divergent thinking in children, and reports discussion of this material by participants at an invitational conference. Methods of establishing criterion measures for assessment of "creativity" consist, at the present time, of the following: (1) judgments by peers…

Reassessment of 120 college females' creativity after the subjects observed others of varying creative ability showed both predicted increases and predicted decreases in subjects' component verbal creativity scores. (RL)