Fostering Creative Thinking in the Nigerian School Child through Favourable Learning Environment

Abstract

Creative thinking thrives in a favourable learning environment. The secondary school education in Nigeria emphasizes active participation of students in the learning process. Actualization of this requires favourable learning environment that can promote creative thinking. This paper focused onfactors militating against creative thinking amongst school children, such as preconceived ideas, negative attitudes and fear of failure. Techniques of fostering creative thinking through favourable environment were also proposed and recommended. These include creative classroom layout, use of divergent questions, appropriate selection of instructional aids. provision of safe outdoor play equipment/materials and use of technological tools and apps for brainstorming, creation of web-blogs and online posting of students ' creative writings or projects.