Creative Differences: Teaching Creativity Across the Disciplines

Several authors have suggested that educational institutions have a responsibility to foster creativity in their students. Yet, research has shown that creativity is a variable concept that can mean different things in different fields and contexts (Kaufman & Baer, 2005). As a result, generic pedagogical techniques for developing creativity may not be equally appropriate across domains. In light of these factors, this pilot study explored (via an electronic survey of instructors) the ways in which creativity is defined and taught across McMaster University’s six faculties. Results suggested areas of both commonality and difference across disciplines in terms of academics’ understandings of creativity and their stated strategies for developing creativity within their students. In this respect, our data provide preliminary support for the notion that creativity teaching may be at least partially discipline-specific, and suggest that further work in this area is warranted.