ABSTRACT

Learning activities designed to foster creativity cast students in the roles of problem solvers and communicators rather than passive acquirers of information. Psychological processes associated with the vision of learning are organizing information, linking new information to prior knowledge, and using metacognitive strategies to plan the accomplishment of goals. Abundant evidence suggests that the strategies that support creativity—solving problems, exploring multiple options, and learning inquiry—also support depth of understanding. Learning takes place best when learners are involved in setting and meeting goals and tying information to their experiences in unique and personal ways. Learning as much as possible about the authentic methodology of the disciplines allows students to become seekers and solvers of real or authentic problems while learning content about history in more complex ways. Increasing consensus among researchers suggests that learning is a goal-oriented process.