"Things You'd Never Do": Preservice Teachers' Conceptions and Experiences Surrounding Creativity in Teaching and Learning

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session One
  In Roundtable Session: Teacher Education Contexts in the Arts and Humanities (Table 8)

Abstract

This study’s purpose was to investigate preservice teachers’ conceptions and experiences surrounding creativity in secondary social studies classrooms in order to illuminate the role of creativity in the practices of teaching and learning. Four preservice secondary social studies teachers were interviewed in the final month of, or immediately following, their final semester of student teaching. We identified three themes based on the interview data: alignment of preservice teachers’ visions for their practices and hopes for education with their conceptions of creativity, differences between the visions and hopes of preservice teachers and the pedagogical practices of both teachers from their past and veteran teachers, and perceived barriers to preservice teachers’ explorations of teacher identities.

Authors

• Sara Evers, Virginia Tech
  Presenting Author

• Kristina E. Bell, Virginia Tech
  Presenting Author

• David Hicks, Virginia Tech
  Non-Presenting Author