Eunice M. L. Soriano de Alencar

O estímulo à criatividade no contexto universitário

The study investigated the degree to which different aspects related to creativity have been fostered by university teachers, as well as university students evaluation of their own level of creativity, their teachers level and their colleagues level of creativity. Four hundred and twenty eight university students answered an inventory of incentive of creativity in the university context. They also evaluated their own level of creativity, and their teachers and colleagues level of creativity. The results called attention to the low degree of incentive to different aspects of creativity by university teachers. Students judged themselves and their colleagues as significantly more creative than their teachers. The results suggest the need of more atention to the development of creativity in the university context.

Barreiras à expressão da criatividade entre profissionais brasileiros, cubanos e portugueses

Investiga barreiras a expressao da criatividade pessoal percebidas por 290 profissionais de educacao do Brasil, Cuba e Portugal. Para identificacao das barreiras, solicitou-se aos sujeitos para completar a sentenca: eu seria mais criativo se... Realizou-se analise de conteudo, elaborando-se categorias que abrangeram, em suas matizes, o conteudo referente as distintas barreiras. Observou-se, que dentre os profissionais brasileiros e portugueses, foram as barreiras de ordem pessoal as mais apontadas, enquanto, entre os cubanos, foram as de ordem social. Observou-se que o medo (de errar, do fracasso, da critica) foi a barreira pessoal mais apontada pelos brasileiros e portugueses, ao passo que, na amostra cubana, foi a insuficiente capacidade de observacao, analise ou reflexao. Quanto as barreiras de ordem social, a falta de tempo foi o aspecto mais salientado nas distintas amostras. Como o cultivo da criatividade no contexto escolar depende necessariamente da atuacao dos profissionais que atuam neste contexto, seria relevante implementar estrategias que possibilitassem a superacao de barreiras identificadas.

Creativity in University Courses: Perceptions of Professors and Students1

Abstract This study addressed professors’ and students’ perception of the extent to which favorable conditions for fostering creativity exist in university courses. Thirty-five university professors and 874 of their students completed an inventory designed to evaluate the degree to which different aspects related to creativity had been fostered by these university professors. This inventory included 37 items distributed in four factors, labeled as follows: Incentive to New Ideas, Climate for Expression of Ideas: Evaluation and Teaching Methodology: and Interest for Students’ Learning. University professors, compared with their students, rated their behaviors as providing significantly more favorable conditions for the nurturing of creativity. The results suggest the need for professors to be belter equipped to create conditions that foster creativity in order to prepare students for the creative productivity that is necessary in all societies.

EVELOPING CREATIVE ABILITIES AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL

Studies on the nurturing of creativity by university teachers are rare. In the present study 233 students from two universities, one ranked as one of the best in Brazil (University A) and another ranked low among Brazilian universities (University B) were asked to fill out an inventory designed to evaluate the degree to which different aspects related to creativity had been fostered by their university teachers. Students from University A, compared with those from University B, rated their teachers as providing significantly more favourable conditions for the nurturing of creativity. It was also found that students from the first half of their courses, compared with those from the second half, evaluated their teachers as nurturing significantly more different aspects of creativity. The results point to some characteristics of the learning situation that may contribute to the promotion of creative abilities. These characteristics should be implemented in the educational setting, in order to prepare student...

Thinking in The Future: the Need to Promote Creativity in the Educational Context

This article explores the conditions necessary to facilitate the growth of creativity. Acceptance at macro and micro social levels is stressed. The importance of problem-setting and problem-solving is also examined with reference to education. Education which emphasises reproduction of existing knowledge is a strongly negative influence on creative thinking.This article explores the conditions necessary to facilitate the growth of creativity. Acceptance at macro and micro social levels is stressed. The importance of problem-setting and problem-solving is also examined with reference to education. Education which emphasises reproduction of existing knowledge is a strongly negative influence on creative thinking.

University Students' Evaluation of Their Own Level of Creativity and Their Teachers' and Colleagues' Level of Creativity

This study investigated university students evaluation of their own level of creativity, their teachers level and their colleagues level of creativity, as well as the relationship between results in creative thinking measures and in the evaluation of their own level of creativity by the university students. Four hundred and twenty eight Brazilian university students were asked to rate their level of creativity, their university teachers and colleagues level of creativity in a seven point scale, after completing the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (Verbal form A). Students judged themselves and their colleagues as significantly more creative than their teachers. It was also found that most students evaluated their teachers as presenting low levels of creativity. Moreover, significant relationships were observed between different measures of creative thinking and the level of their own creativity as evaluated by the students. The results suggest that university teachers are ill-equipped in designing a facilitative environment for creativity. They also give support for the concurrent validity of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking.This study investigated university students evaluation of their own level of creativity, their teachers level and their colleagues level of creativity, as well as the relationship between results in creative thinking measures and in the evaluation of their own level of creativity by the university students. Four hundred and twenty eight Brazilian university students were asked to rate their level of creativity, their university teachers and colleagues level of creativity in a seven point scale, after completing the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (Verbal form A). Students judged themselves and their colleagues as significantly more creative than their teachers. It was also found that most students evaluated their teachers as presenting low levels of creativity. Moreover, significant relationships were observed between different measures of creative thinking and the level of their own creativity as evaluated by the students. The results suggest that university teachers are ill-equipped in designin...

Creativity Training in Elementary Schools in Brazil

AbstractThe effects of the Purdue Creative Thinking Program (PCTP) on the creative abilities of elementary school children in an underdeveloped country were evaluated in an experiment with 578 Brazilian fourth- and fifth-graders. At each grade level, twelve classes were assigned to each of two treatment conditions (PCTP with reinforcement and PCTP without reinforcement) and a control group which had no exposure to PCTP. Pre- and post-testing with the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) yielded twelve creativity measures. Using a 3 X 2 X 2 (treatment by sex by grade level) analysis of covariance, the creativity training was found to be effective, but reinforcement of pupil performance appeared to have a decremental effect.

Creativity in the Brazilian Educational Context: Two Decades of Research

AbstractThis article presents an overview of creativity studies conducted by the author in educational settings in the last two decades. These include investigations of characteristics of the most and least creative students, students’ characteristics most valued by teachers, abilities related to creativity evidenced in books adopted in the Brazilian elementary schools, and the effects of the Creativity Training Program. Studies indicate several characteristics of the educational system which inhibit the development of self-confident creative thinkers and the expression of creative talent and differences among students from several types of schools in creative thinking abilities. Studies conducted with the Creativity Training Program indicate its positive effects on both teachers’ and students’ creative abilities.

Personality Traits of Brazilian Creative Scientists

AbstractThe study’ investigated the personality traits of 29 Brazilian scientists distinguished by their creative production. The criteria used for the sample selection were outstanding achievement and credtive contributions to the field These scientists were interviewed and asked to describe their personality characteristics in response to several questions about themselves and their work. The interviews were tape recorded and later transcribed verbatim. The scientists were also requested to complete a personality checklist. The study found that the scientists ‘most distinguishing characteristics were persistence and dedication to their activities. Other characteristics of this sample were enthusiasm, initiative, independence of thought and action, responsibility, and imagination. The personality characteristics of these scientists were similar to those observed in previous studies of creative scientists in other cultures. These characteristics were influenced by early socialisation in the home and in sc...

Desenvolvendo a criatividade nas organizações: o desafio da inovação

Favorable conditions and the pradice to solve problems creatively make possible the change and the successful introdudion of innovation in the organizational contexto