Creative Thinking and Reflective Teaching in Prospective Teachers

Abstract

Reflective thinking skills are vital for the modern education in schools. Five important reflective thinking skills are identified so far in the scientific literature: Observation, communication, judgment, decision making, and team working. Additionally, creative thinking is becoming more and more regarded as a necessary part of the educational process. In this chapter, an attempt is made to clarify what a sample of prospective teachers in Greece believe about reflective teaching, while at the same time their knowledge and attitudes towards creative thinking are examined. Results indicated that respondents were not fully informed during their formal university education about creative thinking and reflective teaching, while they also lacked hands-on experience and relevant skills. Future research should further focus on cross-cultural differences regarding creative thinking attitudes and reflective teaching in prospective and professional in-service teachers.