Interplay between Individual Creativity and Group Creativity in Problem and Project-Based Learning (PBL) Environment in Engineering Education

Recent studies regard Problem and Project Based Learning (PBL) as providing a learning environment which fosters both individual and group creativity. This paper focuses on the question: In a PBL environment, how do students perceive the interplay between individual and group creativity? Empirically, qualitative interviews were carried out with 53 students (12 groups) in Computer Science, Electronic Systems, Architecture and Design, and Medialogy at Aalborg University,
Denmark. The data analysis shows that there are three aspects to the influences of a PBL environment on the interplay between individual and group creativity: (1) the project as ‘‘an extra member’’ in student groups; (2) tacit modes of collaboration in student groups; and (3) students have both domain-general and domain-specific understandings of creativity. These findings suggest the need for improved approaches to develop creativity in the PBL environment.