1ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 1

Creativity in European Schools: A survey with teachers

Romina Cachia & Anusca FerrariJoint Research Centre (JRC)

Institute for Prospective Technological Studies The European Commission’s Research-Based Policy Support Organisation

2ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 2

Research Questions

3ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 3

How is ICT used in European schools? Is it used to foster creativity?

4ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 4

ICT can be used to enhance creativity and can improve teaching

The vast majority of European teachers (85%) claim that technology has improved their teaching.

Majority of these teachers have been teaching over 10 years.

An impressive high agreement (91%) amongst teachers that ICT can be used to enhance creativity.

5ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 5

How do you European teachers use ICT for teaching and learning?

6ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 6

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

I use a computer to prepare handouts and material

I use the Internet to access information to update my own knowledge for use in my lessons

I use the Internet to search for teaching material

I use the Internet to develop my teaching skills by being in contact with other teachers

I use teaching software for which the school has a license

I let my students use a wide range of technologies to learn (videos, mobiles, cameras, educational software, etc.)

I use software which is freely available online

I use the computer to access students' results and keep track of their progress

Using a computer in class to present or demonstrate

Using the computer room

Asking pupils to use computers for their homework / outside school time

I use the computer to send assignments to students and to receive their completed assignments

I use digital games (including video games, online games, games that run on consoles, computers or mobile phones) in class

always often sometimes rarely never

Internet has become an important source of information

Teachers in Denmark (74%) & Romania (73%) were the most likely to let their students use a wide range of technologies to learn

As opposed to Finland (29%) & Estonia (32%)

Teachers in Portugal & Cyprus (both 96%) are more likely to use ICT to access information …

Substantial difference by Finland (53%)

7ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 7

Which technologies do teachers believe to be important for learning?

8ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 8

Conventional ICT predominates but importance of new technologies start to be recognised

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

ComputersEducational software

VideosOnline collaborative tools

Virtual learning environmentsInteractive whiteboards

Online free materialOnline courses

Music/photo/video/slide sharing sitesBlogs

Social networking sitesPodcasts

Bookmarking and tagging sitesDigital games

RSS feedsMobile phones

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree

9ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 9

Technologies important for learning per country

High Agreement Least Agreement

Conventional ICT Malta (98%) Austria (68%),

Bulgaria (97%) Finland (74%)

Music/photo/video/slide sharing sites

Netherlands (88%) Finland (43%)

United Kingdom (80%) Sweden (54%)

Blogs Portugal (84%) Finland (22%)

Spain (76%) Latvia (30%)

SNS Denmark (69%) Finland (28%)

Bulgaria (65%) Northern Ireland (28%)

Podcasts Portugal (69%) Finland (13%)

Denmark (68%) Latvia (20%)

10ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 10

Technologies important for learning per country

High Agreement Least Agreement

Conventional ICT Malta (98%) Austria (68%),

Bulgaria (97%) Finland (74%)

Music/photo/video/slide sharing sites

Netherlands (88%) Finland (43%)

United Kingdom (80%) Sweden (54%)

Blogs Portugal (84%) Finland (22%)

Spain (76%) Latvia (30%)

SNS Denmark (69%) Finland (28%)

Bulgaria (65%) Northern Ireland (28%)

Podcasts Portugal (69%) Finland (13%)

Denmark (68%) Latvia (20%)

11ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 11

Technologies important for learning / years of experience

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

<1 1 to 4 5 to 10 10 to 20 > 20 <1 1 to 4 5 to 10 10 to 20 > 20

High Agreement Least Agreement

Years of Experience

Conventional ICT Music/photo/video/slide sharing sites Blogs SNS Podcasts

12ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 12

Scepticism in relation to the benefits of mobile phone

More than half of European teachers (54%) disagree that mobile phones could be important for learning.

This contrasts heavily with a recent study conducted with teens (13-19 year olds). 66% claimed to want mobile phones which present opportunities to be educated anywhere in the world (Harris Interactive, 2008)

13ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 13

Digital games for education

Less than half of the respondents (47%) agree that digital games are important for learning and only 17% of the respondents use them as resources in their teaching.

Primary teachers use digital games as a teaching resource much more than secondary school

In UK (44%) and Denmark (31%), teachers were among the most likely to use digital games in their teaching, as opposed to France (6%) and Czech Republic (7%).

Age and length of teaching also seem to be important variables:- under 25 years of age are the highest users of digital games - those who have been teaching for less than a year

14ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 14

What kind of context and support are necessary for teachers to foster creativity in their students?

15ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 15

Training enables better understanding of creativity

Most teachers have received teacher training

Only 23% of respondents deem to have learnt how to teach during initial teacher training

Positive correlation between teachers who have received training and their opinions and practices of creativity training.

16ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 16

More resources needed

Above half of the teachers lament a lack of resources (57%)

School needs more financial support

Respondents are also asking for more technical support (78%).

A large number of respondents (59%) maintain to have found relevant support and examples to combine Information Communication Technology (ICT) and creativity through contact with other teachers/colleagues.

17ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 17

Preliminary conclusions

18ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 18

Understanding of creativity

Teachers believe that everyone can be creative but are less convinced on statement related that creative is not restricted to art

Teachers' opinions on creativity in education are much stronger than their practices.

Teachers seems to be more convinced on the link between:- originally and creativity - than on creativity and value -> entrepreneurial skills.

Assessment is still summative and does not allow space for creativity

19ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 19

While a high proportion of European teachers understand the potential of technology for teaching, the potential of Web2.0 technologies for learning remains untapped

Need for more formal and informal online resources which could enable teachers in their work -> increasing importance of online learning environments and platforms, such as eTwinning in teachers' lifelong learning.

Need of various kinds of assistance to teachers when it comes to new technology.

ICT for Creative Learning

20ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 20

Teacher training on creativity makes a difference in teachers' claims on creativity and their practices.

Training is needed focusing on:

- eradicating recurrent myths about creativity - enable teachers to equip young generations with new skills- new technologies- guide teachers on how to reflect & discern

which activities which take place in the classroom are more likely to encourage creativity.

Training & New Skills

21ICEAC Validation workshop, Seville, 1-2 June 2010 21

Questions?

Thank you for your attention

romina.cachia@ec.europa.eu