Developing an Evaluation Strategy for the CETL in Creativity Dr Paul Martin

What We Are The University of Brighton Creativity Centre is half of ‘InQbate’ the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) in Creativity. It is situated in the School of Environment and Technology behind Cockcroft Building

Our Mission To enhance Creativity in Learning To enhance Creativity in Facilitating Learning To enhance Creativity in the Creative Process

Mission Achieved Through The physical Creativity Centres activities Projects in learning, facilitation and creativity + CDF projects Developing a creative community Working with InQbate and the wider CETL community Researching aspects of creativity and disseminating findings

Context and Variables Physical space Virtual space Personal space Context of activity Facilitation

Physical Space The physical environment in which creativity takes place Needs or preferences may vary with discipline eg; a studio for an artist or workshop for an engineer – or with personal likes or dislikes

Virtual Space E-connections between individuals and groups with the centre and with the wider world community Creation of national and international interest groups and communities

Personal Space Shaped by a persons whole biography By the individuals personal values, beliefs, perceptions, experiences By cultural influences, family, friends, religion, society, gender, profession, trade, discipline etc. By personal likes and dislikes

Context of Activity Attitude towards type of engagement with creativity influenced by :- Rationale eg; work, business, personal gain, personal enjoyment etc. Who else is present eg; assessor, line manager, tutor, friends, work colleagues etc.

Facilitation Transfer of knowledge to facilitation of meaning making / creativity Traditional ‘Sage on the stage’ to ‘Guide on the side’ to ‘meddler in the middle’ or even ‘co-inquirer or creator’

Underpinning Philosophy of Research Knowledge socially constructed Constructivist / Interpretavist Therefore a mostly qualitative approach Findings not necessarily generaliseable to all situations

What We Want to Find Out Need to refine questions about Which types of space, furniture, environmental elements support creative process (cp) Which technologies support the cp Which types of facilitation support the cp

Issues How to carry out worthwhile research in an area of such wide, interactive and complex variables.

Initial Research Methods Time line observations Facilitator / teacher evaluation forms Centre feedback form Booking / enquiry form info plus notes by centre staff

2 nd Phase Research Methods Initial research methods as appropriate plus Learner / delegate evaluation forms covering their whole experience Focus groups Interviews with facilitators and learners Filmed sessions

Creative Community If you are interested in joining us to research in this field and help create a community of research into creativity please contact