Developing Geography Curriculum Framework for Promoting Pre-Service Teachers’ Creative Thinking Through Instructional Media Production

Abstract

The current study explored the effect of a developed Geography curriculum framework towards promoting pre-service teachers’ creative thinking (CT) across its 4 components namely: fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration through instructional media production. A research and development (R&D) model were employed which consisted of 3 phases: Phase 1 involved target group survey using a requirement survey form and administered to participants before the study implementation; Phase 2 involved the creation of curriculum and application of the curriculum contents; Phase 3 was the implementation of the curriculum and a mixed-method type of research was employed. 56 participants, organized into 7 groups with 8 members, have participated in 4 sessions of instructional media production. Data were collected from the participants’ created instructional media task performance aimed at enhancing their creative thinking. Thereafter, a questionnaire on participants’ satisfaction level towards the training as well as interview were conducted after the training was provided. Results revealed that the participants made noteworthy gains as they yielded “high” level on their task performance indicative of an improvement on their CT skills. “Flexibility” and “elaboration” were described as the most and least improved CT components, respectively. Moreover, the participants were most satisfied on the training as most of them revealed that it encouraged them towards effective learning. Additionally, qualitative results reveal participants’ positive experiences towards instructional media production which helped foster their CT skills. Finally, the findings have provided substantial support for the instructional media production to be included in the Geography curriculum as an instructional pedagogical support to enhance students’ creative thinking skills.