Abstract:

Based on our previous research [1; 2], we have come to an understanding that one of the conditions required for developing students’ creativity through e-learning consists in organizing the course materials in an e-learning environment or a learning management system (LMS) following the logic of creative thinking.

Using the componential model of creativity by Theresa Amabile [3], we regarded the creative thinking process as the one consisting of the following phases:
1) identifying a problem,
2) preparing to solve the problem,
3) generating responses related to the problem,
4) evaluating the responses,
5) result.

Taking into account the influence of the environmental component of creativity in the first and third phases of the creative process, we have adapted D. Tollingerova’s hierarchy of tasks [4] and translated them into the tools available in LMS Moodle, i.e.:
1) knowledge reproduction tasks (Interactive Content);
2) tasks requiring simple intellectual operations (Interactive Content);
3) tasks requiring complicated intellectual operations (Assignment, Lightbox Gallery, URL, Page, Chat, Forum);
4) knowledge generalization tasks (Assignment);
5) productive thinking tasks (Seminar, URL, Page).

The proposed e-learning course structure proved its effectiveness in supporting students’ creative thinking process as it was revealed in a pedagogical experiment conducted in our 2021 study in an experimental group of 28 English as a Second Language (ESL) students and compared with the results of a control group.

Further research is needed to facilitate expanding the scope of implementation of a proposed e-learning course structure supporting students’ creative thinking to other subjects.

References:
[1] Oskina, A. (2021). A MODEL FOR DEVELOPING STUDENTS’CREATIVITY WITH THE MEANS OF E-LEARNING. In INTED2021 Proceedings (pp. 7414-7419). IATED.
[2] Oskina, A., & Darinskaia, L. (2021). E-learning Problems Caused by Covid-19: New Challenges or Unsolved Issues?. In INTED2021 Proceedings (pp. 7329-7332). IATED.
[3] Amabile, T. M. (1983). The social psychology of creativity: A componential conceptualization. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45(2), 357–376. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.45.2.357
[4] Tollingerova D., Goloushkova D., Kantorkova G. (1994). Psychology of Designing the Intellectual Development of Children (pp. 48). Moscow - Prague.

Keywords:

Creativity, LMS Moodle, ESL.