This paper proposes that, contrary to the idea that creativity declines during the second half of life, observed changes may actually reflect qualitative changes in the creative process. Life span developmental theory is used to examine empirical and theoretical ideas about mature forms of thinking in relation to creativity. (DB)

Discusses principles of Montessori music education, examining the fundamental characteristics of childhood and the role that music plays in development. Explores the inner satisfaction that comes from experiencing movement with music through compositions and folk music. Emphasizes the Montessori practices of meeting sensorimotor needs of children…

This study asked 95 beginning and 116 experienced elementary teachers in Singapore to rate the usefulness of 33 learning activities for fostering creativity. Three clusters were identified. About two thirds of the experienced teachers' and one fifth of the beginning teachers' ratings indicated little differentiated preference among learning…

Investigated the components of artistic style in young children, using longitudinal studies and a retrospective measure in which judges used children's later drawings to identify their art from earlier in childhood. Explored the concept of "artworld" as an aid in elucidating children's art and style by accounting for the "how"…

The drama hike is a walk in the woods, in which children observe nature and engage in an imaginative search for a "lost civilization" or "strange creatures." Instructions cover scouting out the area beforehand, preparing the children, leading the hike, followup activities, suggestions for creative sites, ideas for language and…

Artists have a long portfolio tradition. Some start to put together their portfolios before they have had any formal training or even before they have any notion of becoming an artist. They simply begin to collect and organize their work, sharing it from time to time with family and friends, perhaps as an occasional exhibition. Later, in the…

Community colleges have long been recognized for their success in providing affordable access to higher education for all and for serving the nation's workforce needs. Their substantial civic and cultural contributions are now also capturing the attention of businesses and of policymakers at the highest levels of government. Why? Because research…

This article proposes an approach to teaching and learning in the university arts sector that is able to accommodate and assess creative process alongside practice. In arguing thus, romanticized notions of "the spontaneous artist" are exposed to scrutiny, and the creative process itself is made subject to analysis. Notwithstanding its focus on the…

The Media Lab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is featured. The 21-year-old center is an ongoing experiment in how electronics can shape the future, and it helped pioneer digital videography and computer multimedia capabilities, among other innovations. So it's no surprise that it is home to Lifelong Kindergarten, a high-tech…

Schools are searching for more effective strategies that will enable all students to thrive and succeed. Evidence indicates that the fine arts can provide a unique avenue for reaching challenging students with principles of brain-based learning. This article describes HEARTS, an after-school fine arts program which taps and develops the talents of…

This paper explores definitions of creativity, theories and models of creativity, and the classic stages of creativity. Creativity is best defined in terms of an interactive process. The creative process in adults often results in creative and useful products, and such creativity is judged in terms of their quantity and quality of patents,…

The potential for creativity in the role of department chair is present, but, for too many chairs, creativity is an oxymoron and something to be preserved only in the ranks of the faculty. It would seem fitting to talk about the need for leadership and creativity in the educational setting. However, creativity seems to be overlooked in the…

This document summarizes a study attempting to understand the critical skill of creative visioning. In the study, 20 people who were involved in creativity or creative visioning were interviewed for 1.5-4 hours. Seven central themes emerged from the interviews: (1) the meaning of creative visioning; (2) trusting; (3) imagination; (4) connections;…

The nature of giftedness, talent, and creativity is examined, and implications for teaching are given. Problems with using IQ as a precondition for identification are considered, especially for creative individuals. Typical obstacles to creative thinking are outlined, including classroom atmospheres that do not welcome new ideas. The importance of…

Discusses and defends the innateness hypothesis - that a component of the human mind is a species-specific language learning mechanism--and discusses some implications of that hypothesis. (RM)