Concept
Novelty With Purpose
A creative idea surprises, yet it also solves a problem or opens a meaningful possibility. Educators can encourage both qualities at once.
Published November 19, 2019 ยท Updated November 20, 2019
What Is Creativity and What Makes a Creative Thinker?
A research-informed look at how creativity is defined, how it can be nurtured, and the habits that distinguish creative thinkers across disciplines.
Defining Creativity
Creativity is usually described as the capacity to produce ideas or work that are both novel and useful. Both conditions matter: originality without purpose is merely eccentricity.
Process
Divergent and Convergent Thinking
Creative work alternates between generating many options and narrowing them to the most promising few. Both phases deserve time in the classroom.
Practice
Making Ideas Tangible
Prototypes, drafts, and rough models turn abstract ideas into material that can be tested, criticised, and improved.
Traits of the Creative Thinker
Creative thinkers are rarely defined by a single gift. Instead, they combine curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to tolerate ambiguity long enough for good ideas to form.
- Sustained curiosity about problems others have accepted
- Tolerance for ambiguity and incomplete answers
- Willingness to revise work in response to feedback
- Ability to move between disciplines and borrow ideas
Conditions That Support Creative Work
A
Psychological Safety
Learners take intellectual risks more readily when mistakes are treated as part of the process.
B
Time to Think
Unhurried periods allow incubation, the quiet stage where unexpected connections often emerge.
C
Real Constraints
Well-chosen limits focus imagination and prevent open-ended tasks from becoming vague.
D
Varied Perspectives
Diverse viewpoints in a group widen the range of ideas and test the strength of each one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can creativity be taught?
Creative habits can be developed through deliberate practice, feedback, and environments that reward exploration. Specific talents vary, but the processes that support creative work can be taught.
Is creativity limited to the arts?
No. Creative thinking appears in scientific modelling, engineering design, historical interpretation, and everyday problem solving. The arts offer clear examples but do not hold a monopoly.
How can a school assess creative thinking?
Portfolios, annotated drafts, and reflective commentaries reveal the development of ideas over time. Assessment should value the quality of the process as well as the final product.
Cultivate Creative Thinking in Your Learners
Discover more of our research on learning, or contact The Tony Little Centre to arrange a workshop for your team.
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