Creative thinking in education: A comprehensive review on theory, instruction, and assessment

Creative thinking has long been the subject of growing interest in many fields as a multidimensional skill that refers to individuals' capacity to generate original, flexible, and functional ideas. Recognized as a skill that must be acquired through education, creative thinking is also one of the life skills of the 21st century. Based on the knowledge that every individual has creative potential, educational environments that support creative thinking, creative teachers, and the educational measurement of creative thinking form the framework of this study. The aim of this review study is to examine the theoretical foundations of creative thinking, measurement approaches, and their reflections in educational environments within a holistic framework. The study comprehensively examines the definitions and theoretical models of creative thinking, the tools used to measure creative thinking skills, and the characteristics of learning environments that support creative thinking. The study reveals that creative thinking is not limited to individual potential but is shaped by the pedagogical environment and assessment culture, offering practical insights for teachers and researchers.