The enhancement of creative collaboration through human mediation

Abstract

This text presents a reflection on the elements that coinfluence creative processes in learning. This study highlights a specific period in secondary education at the António Arroio Art School in Lisbon, Portugal, developed during the curricular activity Training in Working Context with students of the 12th grade. It aims to identify interpersonal and intercultural relations utilizing active participation and involvement in communities of artistic practice. This research follows an action-research methodology with data collection via observation and interviews with students. The results show that human mediation promotes significant creative collaboration, the construction of one’s own identity, and artistic production with others, and it also allows us to perceive creativity as cultural empowerment. Empathy, emotional understanding, and an atmosphere of trust are the factors that students acknowledge as important in the creative process. Freedom and flexibility in creative collaboration practices, promoting autonomous and critical thinking, are also highlighted. Thus, we conclude that values such as mutual respect, solidarity, freedom of expression, and self-help applied in creative practices are crucial in interpersonal communication between teachers and students.