THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREATIVITY OF STUDENTS BY USING CRITICAL THINKING IN SOCIAL SCIENCE

Abstract

The article analyzes the development of students` creativity in social science studying. We consider the points of contact between critical and creative thinking in the development of students` creativity, which are different in content and functionality in cognitive educational process, but they are the complement of one another. The author`s approach to teaching social studies is based on the use of an integral model in the development of creativity by using both creative and critical thinking in doing tasks. Creative thinking is based on causing of a new cognitive product, while critical one is based on making a high–quality cognitive product and testing it for feasibility. The solving cognitive problem stages include understanding of a problem, creation, correction and implementation of a hypothesis, idea or a new way of solving. At the beginning they require primarily individual creative thinking methods and then working in a group. Identification of contradictions, known and unknown, analyzing the situation, pulling out hypothesis, verification of cognitive product efficiency require critical thinking mainly in group. Using mental operations complex, exercising, development of imagination in solving problem and cognitive tasks, changing problems specifications, using teaching methods, co-ordination individual and group work facilitate individual creative development.