ICT potentials and their role in promoting creativity: teachers’ perceptions)

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) offer new learning opportunities in an interconnected society, where its use has become fundamental. This study presents the results of the perceptions of 245 professors who are studying an online master’s degree in eLearning and Educational Technology about the potential of the most valued ICT within the educational field and the role of new technologies in the promotion of creativity of the students is shown. Participants also self-assess their ICT management competence and their own creativity. This approach allows to deepen in the considerations of the participants from their own perception and context. The results suggest that teachers attribute high motivation and stimulation capacity to ICT, categorizing them as an important communication and information exchange channel as well as a way of expression and creation. They emphasized that the orientation of teachers and parents in handling ICT is essential to work with digital resources and the digital teaching competence (DTC) should be encouraged. It is concluded that to enhance students’ creativity, the mere use of ICT does not suffice, but divergent thinking must be worked through the combination of methods and activities. The best of each methodology should be used to make the training as motivating as possible and, thus, create a learning environment that stimulates creativity more effectively through interactions between students and these learning tools.