ICT for (I)nspiring (C)reative (T)hinking

Abstract

The capacity for creative thinking in the workplace is a generic skill that employers value highly in their employees. Although creativity is regarded as an important employability skill, it is a quality in which tertiary graduates are often lacking. Thus, the development of creative thought should be promoted as an integral part of tertiary education; Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can assist in accomplishing this task. Research suggests that ICT has the potential to encourage and support creative thinking throughout the learning process. This paper investigates the links between the theories of encouraging creative thinking in an educational context, and the practice of incorporating ICT in the implementation of learning strategies. The paper reviews the constraints and challenges associated with the deployment of ICT as a tool for encouraging creative thinking, and concludes with suggestions for effective implementation.