Creativity is essential to resolve complex problems and embrace change

Rapid advances in technology are transforming lives. At the same time, the world is facing challenges such as climate change, inequality, and conflict. The need for creative thinking is stronger than ever.

 

How can we build resilient, future-oriented systems that foster creative thinking in students, teachers, and policymakers? And how can we effectively integrate research evidence into educational practice and policymaking?

 

At our conference, co-hosted with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), we explored evidence, innovation, and creative thinking in education.

 

We heard from some of the brightest minds in education

The sessions brought together experts across education research, policy, and practice, including our Yidan Prize laureates Professor Carl Wieman, Professor Michelene Chi, and Professor Eric A. Hanushek.

 

They discussed:

• Fostering the creative potential of all students
• Engaging students to develop creativity and critical thinking skills
• Putting creativity and research at the heart of teacher learning
• Supporting teachers to innovate and engage with research collaboratively
• Fostering data and evidence-informed policy-making
• Connecting research, policy, and practice through effective evidence brokering

The OECD also presented and discussed findings of the PISA Volume III report. For the first time, the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) assessed creative thinking. This assessment measures the capacity of students to generate, evaluate, and improve ideas in four different domains — creative writing, visual expression, scientific problem-solving, and social problem-solving.