The aim for this study is to identify and analyze general trends, logics, and structures within the Swedish education system, and whether these are consistent with society's growing need for creative individuals. Furthermore, this study aims to identify possible tensions, paradoxes, and challenges regarding the role and function of creativity in relation to education. The aims have been approached by a problem-oriented method, based on a literature review as well as semi-structured interviews with key representatives of the Swedish education system. Overall the study has captured an international and national movement, where creativity in education on the basis of socio-economic, political, institutional, and individual embossed perspectives, has come to be a high priority. This development is based on a critique of today's knowledge-oriented education system, which is no longer considered compatible with today's society. The study has identified multidimensional barriers and opportunities for creativity in late modern education systems, and furthermore recognized creativity in education systems as an important aspect in how to address contemporary and future societal challenges.

This investigation is concerned with the identification of creative students in the classroom. One purpose of the study is a search of the literature to determine the emphasis given to creativity in education today. A second is to determine if a measure of creativity given to a group of students would reveal a discrimination between the students. The measure of creativity used in this study was the Christensen-Guilford Fluency Tests. The sample group for the study included fifty-two male and fifty-three female students in the ninth grade of the Richardson Independent School District in Dallas', Texas. This study concludes that measurements of mental abilities must include measurements of creativity as well as intelligence if the more gifted students are to be recognized.

The purpose of this study was to better understand the role of design in the product development process in the apparel industry in the United States, looking for variations in how design is used in the industry. In order to obtain a snapshot of the fashion design industry, creativity, originality, innovation, and product development were examined, as well as corporate culture and strategic orientation. The study also sought to examine pedagogical strategies based on these findings. A mixed methods approach, consisting of an on-line survey and interviews, was employed. The findings suggest variations in the role of design based on the time design-department employees spent on creative tasks. These variations were examined and industrial and pedagogical implications are explored. The significance of this study relates to the findings of the importance of creativity in the product development process of the apparel industry in the United States, as well as considerations for pedagogical strategies.

Plusieurs hypothèses planant autour de la danse, des cultures juvéniles et de l’intervention permettent de repérer l’existence d’une multiplicité de regards, mais sans rapport apparent entre eux. Les tenants du courant humaniste s'intéressent à la forme et à la structure de la danse en tant qu'art dans les pays de culture occidentale. Les tenants de l’approche anthropologique y voient un instrument de socialisation qui permet de créer, refléter ou renforcer des liens entre les participants, tout en transmettant les valeurs de la culture héritée (Blacking: 1963, Spencer: 1985, Ward: 1993, Bourdieu: 2002). D’un point de vue somatique, la danse permet la prédominance du corps sur l’esprit, car l’apprentissage se fait généralement par imitation (Guilcher: 1963, Faure: 2004). Dans ce cas, les participants sont appelés à « s’ouvrir à autrui » en montrant et en apprenant des autres, créant une circularité dans leurs échanges sur un rythme qui « unit » les participants (Schott-Billman: 2001, Hampartzoumian : 2004). Ce projet se pose comme une réflexion sur le ou les sens de la danse comme outil d’intervention sociale auprès de jeunes amateurs amenés à vivre des inégalités sociales. En privilégiant un contexte d’atelier, où certains ajustements sont tolérés par l’enseignant, un espace de créativité s’organise de manière informelle face à un objectif donné : une représentation publique dansée. Cet angle d’approche s’inspire de « la métaphore du bricolage » au sujet des cultures populaires par M. De Certeau (1980), où la créativité populaire est repérable dans « les manières de faire avec » les produits imposés par la culture dominante, la politique, l’économie et les enjeux sociaux dominants. Ainsi, le participant qui « perturbe » les règles d’usage d’une intervention prescrite n’est pas un sujet en marge de la société. C’est par des actions pareilles qu’il prend sa place comme acteur social. Cet événement permet « d’in-corps-porer » le double discours existant entre les danses de représentation et les danses populaires chez les participants. / Several hypotheses exist around dance, youth cultures and intervention, but with no apparent relationship between them. From a humanist point of view, dance is studied through its form and structure as an art form in the countries of Western culture. The anthropological perspective sees dance as an instrument of socialization that can create, reflect or reinforce relationships between members of a community while transmitting the values of the inherited culture. (Blacking: 1963, Spencer: 1985, Ward: 1993, Bourdieu: 2002). The somatic approach emphasizes on the predominance of the body in relation to the mind, due to the fact that the learning process is usually done by imitation (Guilcher: 1963, Faure: 2004). In this angle, the participants demonstrate and learn from others on a common rhythm, allowing a certain flow in their exchanges, and the creation of a union between them. (Schott-Billman: 2001, Hampartzoumian: 2004). Therefore, this project is a reflection on the different meanings of dance when used in a workshop with young amateurs living in a context of social inequalities. The workshop setting allows the teacher to tolerate some adjustments, letting the participants organize an informal space of creativity in parallel to what is prescribed. This approach is based on De Certeau's (1980) idea of popular cultures, where creativity is recognizable in ways to do with ¬or « make do » ¬ of products imposed by the dominant culture, politics and economics. By using creative « tactics », the participants met the given goal of the wokshop - a public performance - in their own way. Consequently, the participant who disturbs the rules of use is not a subject in the margins of society. More over, it is through such actions that he takes his place as a social actor. Also, by dancing in a public performance the participants incorporated the existing discourses on dance, where the art form usually differs from popular dancing.

The students in my elementary art classes did not seem to be creating for themselves. They seemed to have the understanding there was only one correct answer in art class, and the art teacher knew what that answer was. By way of research I have found ways to create an atmosphere in my art room that promotes imagination and self expression in children, thus fostering a free and creative reaction from my students. Through understanding how and why one uses their imagination, an art teacher can enhance a student's ability to build and use his or her knowledge base. I believe an art teacher can help students build artistic confidence by using strategies such as introducing new art materials to children in a play atmosphere, planning lessons that are open-ended, giving choices for materials used, and guiding students using mental imagery.

Leadership is often ascribed as a quality one either possess or doesn’t. We often hear phrases like “She is born leader” or “All eyes are on you”, these are thrown around without discretion in the classroom, conference rooms, social gatherings, and business meetings. This work contends that leadership and in particular leadership that grows and transforms its participants is less an inherent character trait, than an outlook and set of core principles that lead to transformation. Through the application of current and developing business leadership theory and its effect on creativity and a cross analysis of “Best in Class” theatre directors and choreographers that I have worked with, I intend to show that the surest way to a theatrically innovative and engaging production is through a dedication to collaboration, selflessness, and directorial clarity.

This exploratory research focused on a problem stated years ago by Vannevar Bush: "The problem is how creative men think, and what can be done to help them think." The study explored the scholarly work process and the use of computer tools to augment thinking. Based on a review of several related literatures, a framework of 7 major categories and 28 subcategories of scholarly thinking was proposed. The literature was used to predict problems scholars have in organizing their information, potential solutions, and specific computer tool features to augment scholarly thinking. Info Select, a personal information manager with most of these features (text and outline processing, sophisticated searching and organizing), was chosen as a potential tool for thinking. The study looked at how six scholars (faculty and doctoral students in social science fields at three universities) organized information using Info Select as a personal documentation system for scholarly work. These multiple case studies involved four in-depth, focused interviews, written evaluations, direct observation, and analysis of computer logs and files collected over a 3- to 6-month period. A content analysis of interviews and journals supported the proposed AfFORD-W taxonomy: Scholarly work activities consisted of Adding, Filing, Finding, Organizing, Reminding, and Displaying information to produce a Written product. Very few activities fell outside this framework, and activities were distributed evenly across all categories. Problems, needs, and likes mentioned by scholars, however, clustered mainly in the filing, finding, and organizing categories. All problems were related to human memory. Both predictions and research findings imply a need for tools that support information storage and retrieval in personal documentation systems, for references and notes, with fast and easy input of source material. A computer tool for thinking should support categorizing and organizing, reorganizing and transporting information. It should provide a simple search engine and support rapid scanning. The research implies the need for tools that provide better affordances for scholarly thinking activities.

La créativité est une caractéristique psychologique importante à l’atteinte de l’expertise. Le développement de la pensée créative étant reconnu comme un atout essentiel à l’atteinte et au maintien de performances supérieures dans le milieu des arts, des sciences, de la santé, des entreprises et de l’éducation, peu de connaissances sont disponibles quant à son rôle dans le domaine sportif. Par conséquent, l’objectif général de cette thèse était d’explorer le rôle de la créativité sur le développement de l’expertise sportive. Une première étude a d’abord identifié certains facteurs qui influencent la créativité chez les athlètes élites. Les résultats montrent que la pratique de plusieurs sports au niveau récréatif lors du développement athlétique ainsi qu’un environnement favorisant la résolution de problèmes sont bénéfiques au développement de la pensée créative. De plus, il semble que l’expertise soit positivement associée à la créativité tandis que l’expérience y est négativement liée. Ensuite, une seconde étude a indiqué que l’engagement dans des activités créatives entraîne l’utilisation de stratégies de coping orientées vers la tâche qui, à leur tour, favorisent l’atteinte de l’état de flow. Les résultats de cette étude indiquent également plusieurs associations positives entre la créativité et la fréquence d’atteinte de l’état de flow. Finalement, une troisième étude présente les impacts de la mise en place d’une intervention composée d’activités d’improvisation sur la performance de patineurs artistiques élites. Suite à l’intervention, des effets positifs ont été observés sur la performance artistique, la performance en compétition, les attitudes et valeurs créatives, l’estime de soi et les habiletés de pleine conscience des patineurs. Dans l’ensemble, ces résultats permettent de conclure que la créativité est une caractéristique importante à l’atteinte de l’excellence sportive. Il serait donc important de stimuler les habiletés créatives des athlètes afin d’assurer une évolution constante des performances sportives. / Creativity is an important psychological characteristic linked to expertise. The development of creative thinking is recognized as a key asset in the achievement and maintenance of superior performances in the arts, sciences, health, business, and education, but little is known about its role in sport. Therefore, the general goal of this thesis was to explore the role of creativity in the development of sports expertise. A first study identified some factors influencing creativity among elite athletes. The results showed that practicing several sports at a recreational level throughout the athletic development and being in an environment that promotes problem solving is beneficial to the development of creative thinking. Moreover, it seems that expertise is positively associated with creativity, whereas experience is negatively associated with this construct. Then, a second study found that investment in creative activities lead to a better use of task-oriented coping strategies, which in turn, promoted the achievement of flow state. The results of this study also indicate several positive associations between creativity and flow state attainment. Finally, a third study examined the influence of the implementation of an intervention composed of improvisational activities on elite figure skaters’ performances. Following the intervention, positive effects were observed on skaters’ artistic performances, performance in competition, creative attitudes and values, self-esteem, and mindfulness skills. Overall, these results suggest that creativity is an important feature of sport excellence achievement. It is thus important to foster creative abilities in athletes to ensure a constant evolution of sport performances.

Motivation seems to be one of the important variables which might have an effect on creativity. It can have a positive but also a negative impact on creativity. In this thesis motivations of fine artists are examined and the extent to which art might effect personality profile of fine artists is considered. In theoretical part, firstly, art, forms of art and the psychology of art are defined. Further artwork as a product of artistic process, structure of personality and specifically the personality of fine artists are described. A complexity of creativity as a phenomenon is presented. Finally motivation from the social psychology of creativity point of view is explained. The aim of this master thesis is to examine certain psychosocial personality traits of fine artists by the Achievement Motivation Inventory LMI and discovered whether there are significant differences in personality traits of fine artists and control group of "non-artists" interested in economy and business (n=63). Our results support the foreign studies results and indicate that artists score significantly higher in Flow, Pride in Productivity and Independence. Contrary to foreign studies results examine creativity in people generally, our results suggest that fine artists score significantly higher in Competitiveness than...

The present research focuses on students' attitudes and preferences towards English language learning at Czech private language schools. In essence, the thesis focuses on unearthing the relationship and attitudes of students towards language mistakes, goals, and creativity. The study approaches language learning from more and less norm-bound perspectives and the English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) paradigm is introduced. In connection with the main focus of the research the intention is also to detect tendencies that could hint at the suitability of integrating knowledge about ELF into English Language Teaching (ELT). To obtain original data from the selected target group I conducted a mixed-method research (a questionnaire survey and in-class observations). The key concepts discussed are: mistakes, learner goals, learner needs, accuracy and language creativity (or 'languaging'). Key words: EFL, ELF, learner goals, accuracy, language creativity, languaging.