Project: Teachers College Academy – Measuring Creativity

Measuring creativity
How do you measure creativity? Teachers College Academy of Windesheim is working with the ArtEZ Professorship AeCT on a research project that will provide a practical instrument for mapping the creative capacity of students.

Creativity is the powerful engine for learning and living. Unfortunately, in our current education system, that engine has often been stowed away. But the opposition to the search for certainty in education, the pressure to accountability and the one-sided focus on cognitive development is increasing (Potters & Lutke, 2018). In addition to that cognitive development, the development of 21st century skills and the personal development of students have become much more important. The growing interest in creativity fits in with this trend.

Richer vision of education
Creativity is an important 21st century skill. Society requires innovative, creative people. More attention to creativity also helps us to develop a richer vision of education. In a practical form such as art-based learning (Jeroen Lutters, 2012), art helps young people to learn more about themselves and the world.

Research into creative ability
The importance of creativity development independent of the age group therefore needs no further explanation. However, knowledge about creative capacity of specifically the adolescent and tools to map and stimulate the development of creative capacity is lacking. The Teachers College Academy therefore conducted a subsidized, exploratory study together with the AeCT Professorship entitled "Measuring Creativity" (duration March 2018 - February 2019). This research will provide a practical (self-assessment) instrument for mapping the creative capacity of students. Partly based on the results, a large-scale follow-up study is being developed.