Exploring possibility spaces : a framework for fostering creativity and imagination in primary school students

Abstract

In an era marked by unprecedented challenges, traditional approaches to teaching and learning often fall short of preparing students for the real world, necessitating a paradigm shift towards embracing diverse and imaginative solutions. Engaging with the possible presents an immediate opportunity to redesign educational contexts in an effort to lead to the emergence of pedagogies of the possible. Driven by the Possible Action Model (P-ACT, Glaveanu, 2023), this conceptual paper proposes a framework for cultivating possibility thinking through creativity, imagination and wonder. This framework is aimed to facilitate the provision of opportunities to construct and navigate possibility spaces (Glaveanu, 2023) through the nurturing of a sense of personal agency. Possibility Spaces may arise impromptu or they can be purposely set up. The proposed framework may enable students to engage with a sense of the possible through suggested methods that may catalyse engagement with different scenarios. In the context of the current social, economic and educational landscapes, there is increasing recognition of the importance of nurturing students' ability to think critically and imaginatively. These skills are crucial for their transition into the real world. The framework is designed with the aim to create an enriched learning environment that encourages exploration, ideation, and the pursuit of diverse solutions.