2016 Annual Conference

This paper presents creativity as a means to establish a foundation for further discussion of how creative growth in adult learners can occur. It uses Amabile’s componential theory of creativity to show how existing curricula and surroundings can be used to build and strengthen a student’s ability for creative insight.

This session is a must for those interested in improving the creative growth of adult learners. It borrows ideas mostly from current literature on creativity to develop a theoretical framework to incorporate creative growth in the learning environment.

This session invites those who subscribe to the belief that adult learners are increasingly required to depart higher education, ready to navigate the ambiguity and complexities they will encounter in the marketplace. Each of Amabile’s four theoretical elements will be discussed from an educator’s perspective to provide a framework to positively impact creative learning outcomes within a given environment. Additional consideration is given to the pressures exerted onto educators due to institutional accountability and how it often simultaneously demands creativity and innovation in learning outcomes, yet discourages it when exploring new methods of content delivery.