Enhancing Creative Thinking Abilities through the use of Social Media

Abstract

The use of social media in higher education as part of a learning management system is becoming increasingly common and moving beyond mere instructional approaches that characterise a lot of traditional teaching. Social networking platforms and online commu- nities are now an integral part of student's everyday lives and increasingly albeit infor- mally their educational experience. This paper explores the use of Ingenium, an online crea- tivity tool, supported and delivered through a social media site 'Unearthing Ideas Online', established to enhance the teaching of creative thinking. The process builds on traditional pedagogy and evidence demonstrates increased student engagement, deeper understandings and con- fidence in applying creativity principles and methodologies in a range of topics. The process provides a structure for applying creative thinking using Ingenium that students themselves are expert in and re- configures the notion of the classroom beyond traditional physical and pedagogical boundaries.