Metastable Coordination Dynamics of Collaborative Creativity in Educational Settings

Carlota Torrents, Natàlia Balagué, Robert Hristovski, Maricarmen Almarcha and J. A. Scott Kelso
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Carlota Torrents: Complex Systems in Sport Research Group, National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC), University of Lleida, 25192 Lleida, Spain
Natàlia Balagué: Complex Systems in Sport Research Group, National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC), University of Barcelona, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
Robert Hristovski: Complex Systems in Sport Research Group, Faculty of Physical Education, Sport and Health, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
Maricarmen Almarcha: Complex Systems in Sport Research Group, National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC), University of Barcelona, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
J. A. Scott Kelso: Human Brain and Behavior Laboratory, Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33432, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Educational systems consider fostering creativity and cooperation as two essential aims to nurture future sustainable citizens. The cooperative learning approach proposes different pedagogical strategies for developing creativity in students. In this paper, we conceptualize collaborative creativity under the framework of coordination dynamics and, specifically, we base it on the formation of spontaneous multiscale synergies emerging in complex living systems when interacting with cooperative/competitive environments. This conception of educational agents (students, teachers, institutions) changes the understanding of the teaching/learning process and the traditional roles assigned to each agent. Under such an understanding, the design and co-design of challenging and meaningful learning environments is a key aspect to promote the spontaneous emergence of multiscale functional synergies and teams (of students, students and teachers, teachers, institutions, etc.). According to coordination dynamics, cooperative and competitive processes (within and between systems and their environments) are seen not as opposites but as complementary pairs, needed to develop collaborative creativity and increase the functional diversity potential of teams. Adequate manipulation of environmental and personal constraints, nested in different level and time scales, and the knowledge of their critical (tipping) points are key aspects for an adequate design of learning environments to develop synergistic creativity.

Keywords: coordination dynamics; cooperative learning; synergy; constraints; collaborative creativity; complex systems; competition; self-organization; education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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