e-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning

14.2. Can Creativity Be Trained?

Before considering specific guidelines for building problem-solving skills, it makes sense to first ask whether there is any evidence that creativity can be enhanced through training at all and, if so, what types of training work best. Hundreds of creativity programs have been created and quite a few of these have been evaluated, giving us at least some preliminary answers to our questions. Scott, Leritz, and Mumford (2004) reviewed seventy research studies on creativity programs that measured results with (a) divergent thinking tests, (b) production of original solutions to novel problems, or (c) generation of creative products. When aggregating the outcomes across these different criteria, they found an overall ...