Creativity is essential for academic success, according to a new study.
University of South Australia researchers suggest that students who think outside the box are more likely to excel in literacy and numeracy assessments.
The most recent National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) data showed that one in three Australian students were behind in their numeracy or literacy skills.
Researchers looked at 637 students’ NAPLAN performance and found that those who performed well also tended to exhibit higher levels of creativity.
Creativity was a better predictor of academic achievement than traditional predictors like Grade Point Averages (GPAs) and personality traits such as conscientiousness, the data showed.
UniSA researcher Professor David Cropley said the findings were good news for teachers who strived to engage their students in learning through creativity.
“More and more we’re seeing teachers find unique and interesting ways to spark curiosity among their students,” Prof Cropley said.
“This may be as simple as fostering an open and inquisitive attitude towards new ideas in class, or as in-depth as interactive role play to decipher the latest English text.
“It’s all about thinking broadly, looking at problems from different angles, and being flexible.
“Importantly, this study challenges the stereotype that creativity and academic achievement are at odds, which has been a long-held misconception.”
These findings contradict recent calls for a return to ‘back-to-basics’ education and rote learning.
Prof Cropley said creativity was key to building children’s capabilities in literacy and mathematics.
“Schools should be encouraged to integrate creative thinking into their teaching strategies, particularly in literacy and numeracy, where we can demonstrate a clear connection between creativity and academic achievement,” he said.
“Rather than treating creativity as separate from academic achievement, we need to recognise it as a vital component of student success and find ways for teachers to embrace it as part of their approaches to teaching and learning.
“Schools should rest assured: it’s not an either-or approach – creativity can be implemented in structured school learning environments.
“But understanding how creativity is connected to and can boost academic achievement in both literacy and numeracy is very much food for thought.”
