Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
10:26
Problem-Solving Before Instruction (PS-I): A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities
Published on: September 11, 2021
Teaching creativity and inventive problem solving in science
1Division of Educational Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. rdehaan@emory.edu
CBE Life Sciences Education
|September 3, 2009
Summary
Creative problem-solving in science education is achievable by fostering cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control. Inquiry-based teaching with explicit strategies can enhance these skills in college students.
Area of Science:
- Science Education
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Science education reform aims to foster scientific reasoning and creative problem-solving skills.
- Effective methods for promoting creative thinking in science are not widely implemented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on creativity as a set of cognitive skills.
- To explore the relationship between creativity and higher-order cognitive skills.
- To describe instructional strategies for enhancing creative problem-solving in college science classrooms.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing evidence on creativity and cognitive skills.
- Exploration of the link between creativity and higher-order cognitive functions.
- Description of instructional strategies for college-level science education.
Main Results:
- Creativity is not a singular trait but can be explained by cognitive skills like cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control.
- These cognitive skills are broadly distributed within the population.
- Inquiry-based teaching with explicit strategies to promote cognitive flexibility appears effective.
Conclusions:
- Developing creativity in science requires explicit instruction in cognitive skills.
- Students benefit from repeated guidance on creative thinking, cross-disciplinary integration, assumption questioning, and perspective-taking.
- Further research is needed to confirm the impact on college students' learning outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Creative Thinking
Creative thinking encompasses innovative and unconventional methods for addressing challenges, often leading to groundbreaking solutions. Instead of focusing solely on enhancing existing systems, such as increasing smartphone battery capacity, creative thinking might inspire advancements like energy-efficient batteries or processors that minimize power consumption. This multidimensional approach underscores the importance of exploring novel pathways to innovation.
Divergent thinking is the...
Divergent thinking is the...
01:21Cognitive Learning
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
02:32Solving Problems in Physics
Problem-solving is the ability to apply general physical principles to specific situations, usually expressed by equations. It is an essential skill in physics, and can also be useful for applying physics in everyday life as well. Analytical skills and problem-solving abilities can be applied to new situations, compared to a list of facts, which can never be extensive enough to include every possible circumstance. To solve physics problems, a certain amount of creativity and insight is...
01:29Problem-Solving
Effective problem-solving consists of two steps: 1. identifying the problem and 2. selecting the appropriate problem-solving strategy (i.e., a plan of action used to find a solution). Humans use four problem-solving strategies:
01:19Critical Thinking
Critical thinking involves reflective and productive thinking and the evaluation of evidence. Critical thinkers seek to understand the deeper meaning of ideas, question assumptions, and make independent decisions about what to believe or do. Scientists, for instance, are often critical thinkers. Critical thinking also requires humility about what we know and don't know and the motivation to look beyond the obvious. It is essential for effective problem-solving.
Colleges and universities are...
Colleges and universities are...
01:13Principle of Virtual Work: Problem Solving
The principle of virtual work is an essential concept in the field of mechanics and engineering. This is used to solve problems related to the equilibrium of a structure or system. It is based on the assumption that if a system is in equilibrium, the work done by all the forces during a virtual displacement is zero. This principle is applied by considering virtual displacements of the system and the corresponding work done by internal and external forces.
To apply the principle of virtual work,...
To apply the principle of virtual work,...