Developing Creative Thinking among Intellectually Able Filipino Children from Disadvantaged Urban Communities

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the importance of training programs in developing creative thinking skills among gifted disadvantaged children. This study compares two groups of fast learners exposed to varying lengths of training in creative activities. Group A received a total of 20 sessions while Group B had a total of 46 sessions. Training consisted of structured as well as unstructured activities designed to enhance the creative abilities of fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration. Techniques employed ranged from brainstorming, figural/verbal/physical exercises to problem solving. A prepost test design was used to compare differences between the two groups. While mean scores showed positive changes occurring in both groups, results of t-test analysis revealed significant differences only between the pre and post scores of Group B on three out of four categories of creative thinking, namely: fluency, flexibility and originality.