Creatinq

Creativity, problem-solving skills and an inquisitive attitude could go together perfectly in science education. Yet this does not appear to be evident in education. This development-oriented research looked for a didactic approach for first-grade secondary education (natural sciences) in which creativity is fused with inquiry.  

Output/tool of the project

Several prototypes and practical teaching materials were developed. These were tested and adapted following feedback. 

1. The first prototype was tested with teachers and teacher educators at the VeLeWe (Association of Teachers of Science) conference on 7 November 2013.
2. In the framework of the Fibonacci project (which aims to design, implement, test and formalise a dissemination process in Europe of inquiry-based teaching of science and mathematics in primary and secondary education), a presentation was co-presented in Amsterdam on 11 January 2013.
3. As part of the same project, a presentation and workshop was held in Romania (17-19 January 2013). For this, the existing prototype was translated into English.

Based on this, didactic tools and teaching materials were developed that can be used to set up a workshop/assessment session for teachers and intermediaries.

Publications

•    Devlieger, K., De Lange, J., Merckx, B., Thomas, R. (2013). Creatinq: creativity and inquiry in science in the first grade of secondary education. ESERA Conference, Cyprus (abstract)
•    An article in the professional journal NVOX (magazine for education in natural sciences).