Creativity and Its Roles in Design Education in Hong Kong

Wong Yi Lin (2013)

Educators and researchers of design education believe that creativity can be developed in Design and Technology (D&T) classrooms at secondary school level. This study investigates creativity and its roles in design education at the secondary school level. Its objectives are (i) to review and analyse how teachers, students, and policymakers understand creativity, (ii) to understand the practical issues in the design education classroom or school, (iii) to suggest possible methods for teaching creativity in design education, (iv) to identify the roles of creativity in design education, and (v) to determine the issues related to the cultivation of creativity in design education. This study investigates these areas using a data triangulation approach by examining exemplar design projects. Thirteen interviews with Hong Kong teachers, students, and officers were conducted to understand the creativity issues involved in design education. This study finds that creativity is not fostered to its fullness in D&T. Some perceptions of teachers and students, especially the narrow perceptions, affect the cultivation of creativity. Shifts in perceptions, teaching methods, classroom management, and assessments are suggested so that teachers can cultivate creativity more easily.