Digital games as creativity enablers for children

Abstract

This article deals with the issue of creativity and the way this can be supported within technology-enhanced learning experiments. Drawing on a long-term research project in the field of games-based learning, the article describes the methodology adopted during the in-field experiments carried out with the aim of developing young children's creativity. The results of the study, which are presented and discussed, confirm the hypothesis that digital tools can contribute to fostering creativity. As a matter of fact, the analysis of the available data showed that during the 3-year study, students' creative skills and attitudes appreciably increased, in particular those related to figuring out and enacting original solution strategies for the digital games at hand.

Keywords:

• creativity
• games-based learning
• digital mind games
• creativity indicators
• technology-enhanced learning
• children

Notes

1. Children were considered able to imagine and enact a solution strategy if they were ranked A in over 60% of the monitoring sheets compiled.

2. This means that they were considered as ‘positive’ in at least 80% of the sheets compiled for their performance after all the game sessions.