Faculty Publications

Practicing Creative Thinking Skills by Making Creative Products Related to Economic Issues

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Creative theory, Creative process, Economics, Current issues, Poverty, Health, Technology, Disasters, Flow

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Social Studies Research and Practice

Volume

7

Issue

3

First Page

47

Last Page

67

Abstract

Students need to learn and practice creative thinking skills to ensure success in solving everyday, national, and global problems that include those affecting economic issues. The global economy requires workers to have research and innovation skills that depend upon creativity. However, many current educational programs focus mostly on factual content, doing little to inspire or apply the creative process. The project presented here shows an engaging activity that combines creative thinking skills with economic content. Although the activity occurred in a college course on creativity theory and practice, this challenging game can be easily adapted and embedded in the Kindergarten-12 social studies curriculum. This article discusses the set-up of the activity and its connection to creativity theory and curriculum standards. It showcases the work of eleven participants who each made a unique object or scene from a given set of craft and recycled materials, subsequently relating the resulting product to a current economic issue. Photographs of the resulting products are provided along with descriptions of the theme of each item, its connection to economics, and creative aspects of the work. Suggestions for adaptation to the Kindergarten-12 classroom are given.

Department

Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations, and Leadership Studies

Original Publication Date

11-1-2012

DOI of published version

10.1108/SSRP-03-2012-B0004

Link to Full Text

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