Young Creators: Perceptions of Creativity by Primary School Students in Malta

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Child Development
• Creativity Studies

Background:

• Educational institutions face pressure to foster 21st Century Skills, including creativity.
• Limited research exists on students' self-perceived creativity, particularly in younger age groups.
• This study addresses the gap by exploring upper primary students' views on their own creativity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how upper primary students (aged 9-11) perceive their own creativity.
• To identify factors influencing students' self-perceived creativity.
• To understand students' interpretations of creativity within their school context.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous online survey administered to 561 students (aged 9-11) in Malta.
• In-depth qualitative data collected from a subset of 101 students via online forms.
• Quantitative data analyzed using regression analysis; qualitative data analyzed thematically.

Main Results:

• Year 6 students reported feeling less creative than Year 5 students.
• The type of school attended significantly impacted students' perceptions of creativity.
• Qualitative analysis revealed insights into students' definitions of creativity and the influence of school environment and timetabling.

Conclusions:

• Students' perceived creative identity and engagement in creative activities are influenced by environmental factors.
• School environment and structure, including timetabling, play a crucial role in shaping students' creativity perceptions.
• Further research is needed to optimize educational settings for fostering student creativity.