Exploring pedagogies of the possible in primary education : an experimental study on teacher engagement with possibility spaces

Abstract

The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of specialized training related to possibility thinking on teachers’ creative self-perceptions. The project investigates the impact of targeted training on primary school teachers\' engagement with pedagogies of the possible, utilizing the concept of Possibility Spaces as outlined by Glaveanu (2023). A pre-post test design was employed, involving experimental and control groups from four schools. Teachers in the experimental group participated in a comprehensive six-hour seminar on pedagogies of the possible, while their counterparts in the control group received a brief 1.5-hour session on general creativity concepts. The measurement scales included the Short Scale of the Creative Self (Karwowski, 2011), the Creative Mindset Scale (Karwowski, 2013), and the Possibility Thinking Scale (Glaveanu et al., 2023), administered both before and three months after the intervention. This study involves correlating responses across these three scales to explore interrelations and combined impacts on teacher self-perceptions in relation to creativity and possibility thinking. The findings are anticipated to contribute to the refinement and development of pedagogies of the possible, particularly within the framework of Possibility Spaces, offering insights into the cultivation of creativity and innovative thinking in primary education settings