Understanding the properties and processes of a creative teacher team

Abstract

Creativity is never the result of one individual's action and mind alone; the social and cultural contexts in which he or she works are also critical elements. For teachers, teams that comprise a group of instructors working cooperatively play important roles in stimulating creativity. However, information on the entry and process levels of generating creativity in a teacher team is scarce. Drawing on data from video observations and interviews over eight months, six factors were identified, including high team diversity, adaptive team schedule, balanced team goal/complex team mental models, flexible leadership, limited team conflict, and positive team climate.