The effects of the design and organization of learning environments on creativity : the case of two sixth grade art-rooms

Abstract

This study analyzes the effects of the design and organization of learning evironments on creativity. Two types of organization -flexibility and grouping- inside the learning environment are influential on students' creativity, and this study aims to find which organization has more impact and in what ways. Furthermore, it dwells upon the physical characteristics that provoke students' interest and motivation, and that provide the ground for creativity to flourish on, in a learning environment. The four elements of creativity -the person, process, product, and environment- come together to clearly and completely define creativity; these four elements form the structure of the research. Two sixth grade art rooms have been chosen as the setting. one organized according to the idea of flexibility, and the other on grouping. Art rooms have been chosen because creativity can be more readily observed in art compared to other fields, and this age group has been chosen as children in this age group are at the peak point of creativity. After this age, creativity either stays at the same level or starts to diminish with the effects of social rules and regulations; thus results would be more informative. Questionnaires for the students and teachers; observations of each child, her/his creative process, product, and the characteristics of the art-room; and a 1/20 model of the desired art-room made by each student, were assessed in order to be able to form a complete picture of creativity in each art room. The main objective of the research was to obtain results that would define which characteristics -physical and social- enhance creativity in a learning environment. These characteristics are analyzed, the two schools are compared, and further research is proposed according to the findings.