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Creativity related to technology education implies that students will be actively engaged in creating novel products and solutions to technological problems. However, assessing the creativity can sometimes be difficult. Glover recognized that creativity exists at several levels -- the individual, peer, and society levels (Glover, 1980). Creativity at the society level can be studied in technology education through timelines, inventions, and case studies of inventors and the impact of their products. Students probably will never develop products that are considered to be creative at the society level. A product or an idea developed by a student probably has been done before. Most developing adults will probably not create an invention that has significant social impact. However, given encouragement, support, and stimulation, who knows what the possibilities could be?
At the peer group level, some class members may be considered to be creative. However, it is at the personal level, where creativity should be assessed for technology education students. The first time a person has an original and novel solution to a problem, he or she is being creative. The professional skill of the teacher is important in sustaining this creative effort, because creativity is easily extinguished. Creativity is an ability that is present within everyone, but the proper conditions are required for creativity to be expressed.