Behaving creatively: An exploration of the enabling behaviors that can enhance the creative journey

Abstract

There is nothing mystical about creativity. Although the creative process may have moments and elements of 'magic,' it is grounded in systematic and deductive reasoning; the accrual of skills combining old knowledge and new knowledge to make original connections in under-explored domains. The more skills, knowledge, and ideas a learner has, and the greater the persistence with which they are applied in areas of opportunity, the better the chance of creative realization. Therefore, the encouragement and development of appropriate enabling behaviors are integral to learners realizing and applying their creative abilities. This paper proposes six enabling behaviors which can be instrumental to the creative process: curiosity, possibility thinking, goal setting, perseverance, reflection, and expression. The author's experience of promoting these behaviors in the classroom context, both explicitly and implicitly, are outlined and recorded. © Common Ground.