“Here and There One Seed Sprouts, and Then It Seems We Have Done Something”: Nurturing Creativity in Elementary Schools

Abstract

The Lisbon Strategy and other documents of the European Union advocating for a knowledge-based society have provided the ground for restructuring schools and changing pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning, focusing on creativity and entrepreneurship. One of the approaches increasingly popular in Slovenia has been Edward de Bono’s methodology. The article analyses the benefits, controversies, and potentials of de Bono’s “lateral thinking” methods for increasing creativity when introduced to children in elementary school courses and extracurricular activities. Based on the qualitative study, it explores how this “pragmatic” approach to creativity is realised in Slovenian elementary schools, and reflects on teaching creativity in schools as a systemic approach.