My area of research is creativity in higher education particular related to faculty members as they becomes the 'Guide on the Side'.
Education requires creativity. However, creativity is domain specific and it differs from industry to industry. More specific to higher education it differs from departments to departments as for social sciences and pure sciences it may be interpreted differently.
Therefore, I require your kind guidance regarding the same how creativity is interpreted in your area or how you asses or rate your Faculty members in terms of creativity what are the critical elements/key words that becomes the basis for creativity. (Please Mention your Area/Department)
I am attaching few common definitions of creativity that would be instrumental for the general understanding of the construct.
Creativity is fluid, i.e., it changes but it does have these components: it's thinking outside the box, meaning putting ideas, concepts, or materials together in a way that is original, surprising, evokes emotion. Usually, creative people put together concepts, ideas, material together which seem unrelated, spontaneous, out of the norm. Creativity is not rigid, doesn't follow convention. Using things, or ideas, even people, but seeing something new, different in each and putting it together so it all comes together beautifully is creativity.
I am currently working on a thesis on creative solutions to exclusionary discipline, and one idea I am looking into is art therapy (school-aged children).
Hope this helped.
@Marilyn Mehlmann creativity (ideas).
@Nad Sy Thank you very much for the comprehensive answer & good luck for your thesis.
One source of faculty creativity comes from being interdisciplinary. Oftentimes the breakthrough of a field derives from the fact that someone brings the ideas from other fields. And the ideas that are considered original and innovative in one field are oftentimes not new to other fields. This book provides much evidence: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/a-tale-of-seven-scientists-and-a-new-philosophy-of-science-9780190232993?cc=us&lang=en&
I would like to add that in regards to promoting creativity, the work environment should allow for it, and once creativity emerges, the environment should be such that creativity can flourish/thrive in it. Good leaders draw out their employees' strengths and help their employees' understand and build 'self-efficacy' by allowing for more 'agency'. The support given by the team leader is important.
I consider creativity in mathematics education to be innovative ways to bring ideas to students.Teachers can use the latest technology in new ways: ways that are different from original intent. The spark of creativity comes from being able to see potential where others cannot; as mentioned thinking outside the box needs encouragement leaders.