Little c creativity: A case for our science classroom

Abstract

The number of day-to-day challenges has increased at every stage of life, particularly in developing countries, and therefore there is a crying need for a search for solutions. Education plays an important role in providing correct direction, and science education can prove crucial in achieving this goal. Solutions to individual as well as societal problems would be within our reach if learners were equipped to be creative problem solvers in their daily lives. Science education provides immense opportunities for creativity as the nature of science is inherently creative. This study attempted to find a realistic connection between the ‘little c creativity’ of individuals and science education through a heuristic study with a small group of secondary school learners that tried to develop ‘little c creativity’ in the science classroom. Evidence revealed that science teaching, if done properly, could develop reasoning skills, curiosity, open-mindedness, critical thinking and problem-solving attitudes, all of which are necessary ingredients for the fostering of ‘little c creativity’ in learners.