Creativity Within the Preservice Teacher Classroom in Rural China

• In Event: 34.080 - Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: 34.080-1 - Division K Section 5 Poster Session 1

Abstract

Does China, at the forefront of enforced test-centric schooling in the world, display any creativity in teaching and learning? Is it even plausible that creativity in education could be observable in a communist regime? With these questions in mind, the researcher sought to learn whether, with pedagogical guidance, preservice education students in China can do creative work. Acculturation of learning in China is within a rigid system of testing and accountability measures, which leads to the assumption that all students are unable to think flexibly and laterally, thus lacking creativity. AERA’s theme was relevant in two ways: knowledge of creativity was applied in an action study of creative curriculum, and the context was a government-controlled, low-income rural municipality in China.

Author

• Carol A. Mullen, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University