Niekonwencjonalne techniki plastyczne, inspirowane współczesnymi nurtami w sztuce wizualnej, w aktualizowaniu potencjalności twórczej dziecka

This doctoral dissertation is a description of the multidirectional activities undertaken, planned and implemented in order to identify the impact of original unconventional art classes inspired by contemporary trends in visual art (which, due to interpretation ambiguity, seems to be constantly trivialized) on the creative potential of children. Research activities of an experimental nature were initiated by considerations on the shape and main tasks of art education, which in modern times should, among others, develop visual communication skills (especially in the perspective of a strongly increasing sight-focused tendency) and creative aptitudes, and create the opportunity to express themselves, provide critical reflection and develop own cultural identity through contact with works of art. Presented work distinguishes three main parts, which concern: theoretical plane, research methodology and the empirical area. The theoretical component is of introductory and explanatory nature and contains three chapters on the essence of creativity, contemporary art and visual arts in the context of human development. The empirical component includes presentation of detailed research results, among which the most important ones are those that concern the main field and confirm the positive impact of unconventional activities on the level of divergent thinking, attitude and creative imagination, as well as the increase in nonconformist and heuristic behaviour with concurring minimizing of the algorithmic and conformist behaviour of children from the experimental group. Thanks to the application of categorized observation and the use of evaluation survey (in the form of short school feedback) observed were positive reactions and approving behaviours in relation to the proposed experimental activities. The attitude of children from the experimental group to artistic and visual ventures has changed positively, as indicated by the results of pre-and post-experimental surveys. Very interesting was the use of self-created research tools (in pre- and post-experimental versions) for evaluation of artistic works – in connection to the need to identify the impact of classes on artistic skills of the children – the notes issued by the group of Competent Judges were characterized by divergence, as evidenced by the results of the analysis using Kendall's W test. Equally controversial was the use of the modified Creative Product Semantic Scale, which was filled by another group of Judges in order to identify the features of a creative work in products of children’s efforts. Therefore, it was impossible to confirm the alternative hypothesis assuming the positive impact of the classes on the level of artistic skills of participants and to diagnose creative traits in experimental products. This opens the field for reflection and further investigation and exploration of the possibilities of using tools based on the assessment of children's work in research projects. The dissertation ends with the set of conclusions and observations, formulated after the analysis of the results in each of the distinguished fields. Despite the results unequivocally proving the significant impact of unconventional activities on the creative potential of children from the experimental group, these observations unfortunately seem alarming, as they involve, among others, creative stagnation in the control group, or a noticeable tendency to unify child behaviour in school activities and glorify the output. Finalized in the form of this study, the research has highlighted the need to explore some areas, primarily related to the evaluation and interpretation of children's artistic works in scientific research, and to expose such elements of the school system that need to be refined – especially in view of creating an environment that would encourage creative, critical, heterogeneous and reflective thinking, and therefore one that is undoubtedly desired in modern times