Page 338 - Vseživljenjsko učenje kot temelj trajnostne družbe

Mija Umer in Barbara Baloh

Fostering Creativity in Language as a Foundation of Lifelong Learning
Creativity is a key factor in promoting adaptability, innovation, and problem-
solving abilities in contemporary society. Language, as a tool for communica-
tion and collaboration, enables individuals to actively participate in social pro-
cesses and contribute to sustainable development. Therefore, fostering cre-
ativity from an early age is not only a pedagogical responsibility but also a
broader social imperative. This paper addresses the importance of encour-
aging linguistic creativity as a fundamental aspect of lifelong learning and a
sustainable society. The research focuses on the impact of various scaffolding
strategies aimed at developing creative storytelling among fourth-grade stu-
dents. It analyses how different types of stimulation affect students’ vocabu-
lary development and overall creativity. The study tested three strategies: sto-
rytelling without scaffolding, storytelling with verbal scaffolding, and story-
telling with didactic scaffolding. The findings show that visible didactic scaf-
folding plays a significant role even after the initial literacy phase. Concrete
visual and material support encourages students to engage in more vivid and
creative storytelling, highlighting the teacher’s role as a creative model within
the learning process. The paper emphasizes that a teacher, through deliber-
ate methods, fosters not only communicative competence but also cognitive
flexibility and student innovation. Promoting creative storytelling contributes
to shaping individuals who are capable of critical thinking, effective communi-
cation, and creative problem-solving-skills essential to building a sustainable
society.
Keywords: creativity, primary school, scaffolding strategies, storytelling, Slo-
vene language

338