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The Perceptions of Creativity and Mathematics in Post 16 Arts Education

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The Perceptions of Creativity and Mathematics in Post 16 Arts Education The Perceptions of Creativity and Mathematics in Post 16 Arts Education John Waddington Master of Art by Research University of York Education January 2018 Abstract The aim of this study is to establish the perceptions of creativity and mathematics in a specialist arts College including those of both staff and students. In addition, it aims to identify associations between the delivery of creative subjects and the potential to use these within mathematics based pedagogic strategies. Research questions explored 3 main areas, what are staff’s perceptions of creativity in a specialist arts College, is there an association between the creativity of arts students and performance in mathematics in a specialist arts College and what are staff’s attitudes in a specialist arts College towards mathematics in the curriculum? Current UK educational practice has been described by Robinson (2011) as having a negative impact on the creative ability of young people identifying that many students who enter pre-school have a creative confidence that is lost by the time they leave school. In consideration of mathematic pedagogy, Dalby et al, 2016, in their study ‘Locating mathematics within post-16 vocational education in England’ also suggest that there is a need for widespread improvement in the approach to the delivery of Mathematics. However they suggest that achieving this is far more complex, particularly in Post 16 education. This is due to students’ prior history of perceived failure in the subject resulting in students that are very demanding to teach due to their lack of interest in the subject and disaffection in their studies. The results of this study showed a clear association between the mathematical performance of students and their creative fluency and flexibility. Staff were very positive towards creative learners and have very clear ideas regarding what makes learners creative and good mathematicians and in many aspects these attributes overlap. They utilised a broad range of strategies to develop long-term creativity goals of learners and, despite strategies being under developed in the promotion of mathematics, activities that embed mathematics in the creative curriculum are broad ranging to support cognitive development associated with mathematical skills and concepts. However, it is the potential of the development of creative fluency and flexibility that remains unanswered and requires further study to identify the potential of the development of these attributes on mathematical performance. 2 Declaration I declare that this thesis is a presentation of original work and I am the sole author. This work has not previously been presented for an award at this, or any other, University. All sources are acknowledged as References. 3 Table of Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Declaration ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 6 Chapter 2: A Literature Review .......................................................................................................... 12 Theories of Creativity ........................................................................................................................ 12 Creativity in Education ...................................................................................................................... 16 Pedagogical Approaches in Creativity and Mathematics .................................................................. 20 Chapter 3: Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 26 Research Questions .......................................................................................................................... 26 Participants and Procedures ............................................................................................................. 28 Materials and Measures .................................................................................................................... 31 Pilot of Questionnaires ...................................................................................................................... 37 Ethics ................................................................................................................................................. 38 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 4: Findings - What are Staff’s Perceptions of Creativity in a Specialist Arts College? 41 Teachers beliefs regarding creativity ................................................................................................ 42 Teachers’ definitions of creativity ...................................................................................................... 45 Teachers’ perceptions of the creative student .................................................................................. 46 What percentage of their students do staff consider to be highly creative? ................................. 47 What are the staff’s beliefs regarding the essential features of creativity? ................................... 47 What strategies and activities do staff use to promote creativity? ................................................ 48 In Conclusion - What are Staff’s Perceptions of Creativity in a Specialist Arts College? ................. 51 Chapter 5: Findings - Is there an association between the creativity of arts students and performance in mathematics in a specialist arts college? ............................................................. 56 Creative ability and Mathematic Performance .................................................................................. 56 Student Creativity scores as identified by Guilford Test ............................................................... 58 Fluency by Course ........................................................................................................................ 58 Fluency by Grade .......................................................................................................................... 59 Flexibility by Course ...................................................................................................................... 60 Flexibility by Grade ........................................................................................................................ 61 Elaboration by Grade .................................................................................................................... 62 Does mathematics performance and creative ability in arts students identify an association? ........ 63 Personal Characteristics and Mathematic Performance ................................................................... 64 ‘I like problem solving’ ................................................................................................................... 64 Passing GCSE mathematics is important to my future career ...................................................... 66 ‘I don’t give up easily in mathematics’ all participants’ responses ................................................ 67 Participants’ resilience and performance in mathematics ............................................................. 69 Do personality traits have an impact on mathematical performance? .............................................. 70 The results of the focus group....................................................................................................... 72 In Conclusion, is there an association between the creativity of arts students and performance in mathematics in a specialist arts College? ......................................................................................... 73 Chapter 6: Findings - What are staff’s attitudes in a specialist arts College towards mathematics in the curriculum? ........................................................................................................ 74 Characteristics of Students ‘who are good at mathematics’ ............................................................. 74 Strategies and Activities to support Mathematics in the Art and Design Curriculum ........................ 75 Comparing staff identified characteristics of a good student mathematician and their teaching strategies and activities ..................................................................................................................... 78 Teachers’ perceptions of a creative student compared with their perceptions of a good mathematics student ............................................................................................................................................... 79 Review of the data - What are staff’s attitudes in a specialist arts college towards mathematics in the curriculum? .................................................................................................................................. 80 Chapter 7: Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 82 4 Appendix 1 – Staff Questionnaire ....................................................................................................
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