The document summarizes the CREANET network, which aims to develop a European forum for discussion, research, and exchange of best practices on creativity in preschool education. The network includes partners from 8 countries and conducts research on perspectives of creativity from teachers and practices that foster or hinder creativity. It shares results at annual conferences and through working groups on contexts and expressive languages that develop new project proposals.
1. Creativity
in pre-school
education
www.creativityinpreschool.eu
facebook.com/creanetEU
Twitter.com/CreanetEU
2. Why CREANET
Always more attention paid at EU level on
early childhood education
Scarce partecipation of actors dealing with
children aged from 0-6 in the LLP Comenius
action
3. Background
Since 2007 to 2012
261 Comenius projects approved by the
central agency EACEA (in Bruxelles)
Only 12 of them were focused on education
in early childhood
4. CREANET is a Comenius network aimed at
developing a european forum for discussion
research and exchange of best practices on
creativity in preschool education from a
multidisciplinary and cross-institutional
perspective.
6. Scandiano
Municipality University of
SERN
Italy Modena and
Italy
Reggio Emilia
Italy
University of
University of
Liepaja
Latvia Klaipeda
Lithuania Enzkreis
Verteneglio Germany
Municipality
Croazia
University of
Norrköping Instituto
Jyvaskyla
Municipality Politecnico de
Sweden Finland
Beja
Portugal
University College
Lillebaelt, Odense University of
Denmark Murcia
Spain
7. Associated Partners
41 Associated partners
(E.G.)
Parma province
Forlì municipality
MUBA – Milano
Scuola statale dell’Infanzia dell’Abate Scandiano
Scuola statale dell’Infanzia Don Borghi - RE
8. Obiettivi di CREANET
1. To create a european forum for discussion among practitioners and
academics;
2. To identify, compare and exchange methodologies, approaches and
experiences that promote creativity
3. To improve the quality of the educational offer and improve the
competences/skills of the teaching staff
4. To use creativity as a means to boost the educational and social
inclusion of the children and families belonging to minorities and/or
disedvanteged groups
5. To strengthen the european dimension of lifelong learning and to
stimulate creativity at the early stages of childhood
9. Network Strategy
1. Research activities aimed at developing a
european approach toward creativity in pre-school
through litterature reviews fieldwork and action-
research
2. Exchange of best practices structured in two
working groups dealing respectively with creativity
and “contexts” and “expressive languages”;
3. Annual conferences aimed at exchanging best
practices and at developing new projects based on
the results of the research
11. Research
→ European literature review on creativity in
pre-school education;
National literature review
International thematic literature review
Creativity and technologies, creativity and science, creativity
and art, creativity and teacher’s role, creativity and materials,
creativity in children and adults
→ To identify the perspective of the teachers on
creativity;
→ Sharing best practices;
13. TEACHERS’ POINT OF VIEW
Adopted
Methodologies
Focus Groups Questionnaires Interviews
14. AIM OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE
To identify the teachers’ point of view on
creativity through a questionnaire.
In particular, to understand what are the
elements and activities that help or hinder
creativity in children
15. THE RESEARCH SAMPLE
Respondents: 425 kindergarden and nursery
school teachers from 8 countries
Croatia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden.
16. THE RESEARCH SAMPLE 2
Profile: Women (95% of the sample), with
more than 10 years of teaching experience
(70% of the sample)
The respondents participated in some
training activity on creativity.
17. ELEMENTS THAT INFLUENCE
CREATIVITY
1. Appropriate pedagogical behavior of teachers
2. Availability of materials
3. Attractiveness of indoor/outdoor
environment
4. Adequate organizational structure of the
school
19. WHAT HINDERS CREATIVITY
Attivities with a
(pre)defined
pattern to follow
Practices/activities Authoritarian
that hinder
creativity teaching styles
Lack of time,
space and
materials
21. Prima Creanet conference – Beja (PT), 5-7 may 2011
Presentation of the results of investigation
Set up of wrking groups
Contact seminar for project development
Second Creanet conference – Lithuania, 23-25 may 2012
Presentation of the work carried out in the working groups
Presentation of findings of comparative research carried out duting the
second year of activities
Contact seminar for project development of new Comenius projects
Third Creanet conference – Italy, september 2013
Presentation of the final results of the research
Presentation of the best practices identified
Presentation of a draft document addressed to policy makers
22. Presentation of the research results
2011 Conference
National Literature
Review
2012 Conference
Transnational thematic
analysis
2013 Conference
Presentation of the
results/outputs of the
research
23. Development of New Projects
Specific sessions in each conference were dedicated
to the development of Comenius projects among
preschools
Multilateral
Projects
Networks Partnerships
LLP
Comenius
http://www.programmallp.it/home.php?id_cnt=11
26. Woring Groups’ themes
CONTEXTS EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGES
Spaces and materials; Outdoor environment;
Constructiveness; Narrative;
Technology and media; Body;
Relations; Arts: art, music, dance e
theatre
Language learning;
Graphic-expressive and
Play; manipulative
Exploration of the nature;
27. Structure and methodology of the
groups
Expressive
Contexts
Languages
Exchange of best
practices
Testing of pilot Development of
actions new projects
43. How to follow CREANET
Visit the website www.creativityinpreschool.eu and follow us
of the social network:
facebook.com/creanetEU
twitter.com/CreanetEU
Participate to the annual CREANET dissemination seminars
Participate to the CREANET annual conferences
Valorize the results of the project by testing the results of
research, methodologies and best practices of the network in
your organization