TECHNICAL TALENT AND TECHNICAL CREATIVITY IN LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

Technical subjects should include creative activities in order to foster the development of technical creativity in talented students. Talent should be regarded as a potential or a characteristic, which a certain student possesses. Creativity can be described as an activity through which such talent shows. The research on the correlation between technical talent and technical creativity included 109 students aged 11 to 15 years, in two Slovenian lower secondary schools. Students were tested by two modified tests on technical creativity and technical talent. The results show that a positive correlation between technical talent and technical creativity exists. It depends on the gender, age and closing assessment of the student. Females displayed a higher level of technical creativity in comparison to males; however, the males achieved higher scores in the technical talent test. The higher the closing assessment and the age of the students, the higher was the level of their technical talent and technical creativity. Key words: basic education, technical talent, technical creativity, technique and technology.