Author Identifier (ORCID)
Serap Sevimli-Celik: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9072-9289
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the creative experiences of early childhood pre-service teachers enrolled in a semester-long course designed to enhance their creative potential through experiential projects. Using a qualitative research design, this study explored the subjective experiences of 16 pre-service teachers, aged 21 to 23-years-old, who participated in a 14-week course focused on integrating creativity into early childhood education. Data were collected through weekly reflections, project reports, and multimedia documentation, capturing each pre-service teacher's creative journey. The findings revealed four key themes which characterized the pre-service teachers’ creative experiences: (1) learning a new skill, (2) expressing creativity and experiencing a sense of accomplishment, (3) overcoming challenges related to fear and insecurity, and (4) achieving personal fulfillment and professional growth. These open-ended projects fostered an environment where the pre-service teachers could take risks, embrace failure, and reflect on their development, building essential skills such as problem-solving, creative confidence, and resilience. This approach equipped pre-service teachers with the skills and mindset necessary to foster creativity in their future classrooms, supporting both their personal and professional growth.
Keywords
Creativity, Early childhood, Experiential learning, Higher education, Reflective practice
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
3-1-2026
Volume
59
Publication Title
Thinking Skills and Creativity
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Education
RAS ID
84288
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Sevimli-Celik, S., & Güvelioglu, E. (2025). From comfort zone to growth zone: Experiential projects as catalysts for creativity in pre-service teachers. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 59, 101994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2025.101994