Reports a psychiatrist's analysis of Einstein's personal account of how he developed the theory of relativity. The psychiatrist cites Janusian thinking, actively conceiving two or more opposite concepts simultaneously, as a characteristic of much creative thought in general. (MA)

Comparison of 14 verbally gifted 6-year olds with equal numbers of chronological-age and mental-age controls using a structural-developmental analysis found that the gifted children organized story plots in ways typical of children 2 years older, elaborated on basic plot structures more than control groups, and demonstrated advanced language…

Reviews intelligent software agents and their relevance to networked information, particularly concerning future patterns of information gathering in research and education. Discussion of Internet information includes differing interfaces, the need for indexing, and map-making and information overload. Additional highlights include characteristics…

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…

Discusses using advanced electronic and communication technology to improve organizational innovation. Group creativity techniques, such as electronic brainstorming, PMI (a brainstorming approach involving plus, minus, and interesting points), synectics, and their verbal counterparts are compared. Electronic PMI and synectics are found to be…

Considers how peoples' creative problem-solving efforts are influenced by organizational characteristics. Examines the situations which call for creative problem solving at work and describes the kinds of processes people must apply to solve these problems. Reviews organizational variables that help or hinder these processes. (Author/CR)

Richard Lewis, founder and director of the Touchstone Center (New York City), discusses how the move toward national education standards works against individualism and expressive learning. He suggests that teachers get so involved in meeting standards and goals that they fail to obey the natural laws of learning. (LP)

Describes research using observation and interviews to collect information on the aesthetic experience of learning in an experimental multidisciplinary program for first-year undergraduate students. Finds three areas that shaped the aesthetic sensibility of the classroom: active learning, classroom control, and ambiguity in class structure and…

A study involving 633 Grade five Chinese students in Hong Kong found significant sex and popularity group differences in peer-nominated creativity and popularity group differences in teacher-rated creativity. Overall, peer status and perceived creativity were highly related. Students perceived boys as more creative than girls. (DB)

Reviews the growing body of literature that addresses school psychologists' coping strategies and argues that creativity and "alonetime" represent potential resources to draw upon as school psychologists' roles change. Suggests that creativity and alonetime are untapped, inborn resources representing flexible and workable coping tools…

A study investigated the personal obstacles to creativity cited by 385 Brazilian and 305 Mexican university students. Results indicate that lack of time/opportunity was the most frequently cited obstacle. Mexican students referred to motivation factors as barriers to their creativity more than Brazilian students. (Contains references.) (CR)

Examines the effects of trait intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, measured by the Work Preference Inventory, on creativity and academic performance. In an experimental creative writing task, intrinsic motivation correlated with creativity. In a follow-up study, intrinsic motivation correlated negatively with year-1 GPA, whereas extrinsic…

Considers if the creative process is a viable tool in anger management. Explores whether a summer art program made a difference in the lives of a class of troubled youth. Uses art-based educational research methods from the qualitative inquiry paradigm to assist the exploration. Presents the authors' reflections on the program. Concludes that art…

Notes that teachers at every grade level have discovered that engaging children in book making has the power to motivate even the most reluctant writers. Notes that most curricula for teaching writing ignore the role of visual images in the writing process. Contends that by creating a combination of graphics and written text, children engage in a…

Discusses a redefinition of learning and considers implications for instructional design and educational technology. Topics include creativity; changing performance capability by instruction; preparing students for lifelong learning; interactions with our environment; the role of curiosity and challenge; learning as dialogue; and emotional needs.…