Teaching Creativity: Singapore's Experiences

Teaching Creativity: Singapore's Experiences

This paper intends to share experiences in teaching creativity to student teachers (1997-1999) at the National Institute of Education (NIE). It is organized into four parts. In the first part, a general overview of creativity in Singapore's education is presented. Creative imagination was recognized as one of the essential aspects of education in the sixties. The efforts of providing basic education overshadowed fostering creativity. In the eighties, fostering creativity and innovation became prevailing. The efforts were intensified in the nineties. In the second part, the contents of the lessons on creativity are outlined. A combination of individual and group brainstorming technique for Singaporean student teachers was elaborated. In the third part, three experiences gained in the course of teaching creativity to student teachers are discussed. Finally, suggestions to improve teaching creativity to Singaporean student teachers are presented.