Making futures: The role of agency and possibility thinking in the creative lives of young people

Education, employers and governments are focusing on creativity as a crucial attribute in the development of young people. Utilising Craft's (2000, 2001) framework for 'little c" creativity and 'possibility thinking' this study explores how schools are fostering creative attributes in senior school students. Combined with Eisner's (1998, 2002) framework for knowledge, imagination and innovation as its lens, it uncovers aspects of creativity students identify as helpful in preparing for creative futures. Using a bounded case study approach, this research considers the stories of six Queensland senior school students to discover how young people are employing a 'possibility thinking' approach to life, engaging with play, imagination, risk taking and question posing, to shape themselves and solve problems daily. The study reveals the important role creative adults play, at school and at home, empowering learners to connect ideas, develop new perspectives and solutions in unique ways.