WHAT DO CREATIVITY RESEARCHERS OWE TO EDUCATION?

What do creativity researchers owe to education? This question serves as a call for creativity researchers to take stock of how creativity research has typically been conducted in educational settings. It also serves as a challenge for creativity researchers to consider new possibilities and responsibilities for how creativity research might contribute to creative and educational futures. As discussed in this chapter, a typical approach of creativity researchers is to use education as a site for exploring conceptions and manifestations of creative thought and action. This approach can be thought of as research about creativity in education. Another common approach has been to view education as a site to develop and test out ways to enhance student and teacher creativity. This approach represents research for creativity in education. A third approach is introduced, called creativity research with education. Research with education is aimed at broadening the horizon of what is possible for creativity researchers and educational practice. The benefits, implications, challenges, and responsibilities inherent in these three approaches are also discussed.