The Role of the Classroom Teacher in Developing Creative Thinking Skills among Basic Education Students

Abstract

This study aims to identify the role of the classroom teacher in developing creative thinking skills among primary education students, as well as to examine the factors that enhance these skills and identify the main obstacles that hinder their development within the school environment. The study adopted the descriptive-analytical approach and targeted a sample of teachers from primary schools in Surman City, Libya.

The findings revealed that the teacher is the cornerstone of the educational process, whose role extends beyond the mere transmission of knowledge to creating a stimulating learning environment that encourages students to think freely, solve problems, and innovate through the use of modern teaching strategies such as cooperative learning, project-based learning, brainstorming, open discussion, and the integration of educational technologies.

The results also indicated that the development of creative thinking skills—namely fluency, flexibility, originality, and sensitivity to problems—is closely associated with teachers' competence and their instructional practices. On the other hand, the study identified several obstacles that impede the development of these skills, including reliance on traditional teaching methods, limited instructional time, rigid curricula, inadequate material and technological resources, and insufficient professional training programs for teachers.

The study recommends enhancing teacher preparation and professional development programs by focusing on creative thinking strategies, revising school curricula to incorporate activities and learning situations that foster creativity, providing a supportive school environment, and effectively integrating modern educational technologies to prepare a generation capable of creative thinking, innovation, and addressing the challenges of the contemporary world.