Tracing the impact of teacher engagement on student creativity in biology classrooms: A multi-level diary study in senior high school
Keywords:
Teacher engagement, student creativity, biology education, quality educationAbstract
This study explores how teacher engagement influences student creativity in biology classrooms. Although teacher engagement is known to enhance student outcomes, its short-term and classroom-level effects on creativity remain unclear. This study examines the relationship between teacher engagement and student creativity in high school biology learning through a multilevel diary study. A total of 112 eleventh-grade students from seven public senior high schools in Pekanbaru, Indonesia, participated over four weeks, with repeated measures after each session. Teacher engagement was assessed using a modified Utrecht Work Engagement Scale , and student creativity through open-ended essay tests. Hierarchical lLinear mModelling capturesd both within-class and between-class variations. Results indicate that session-level engagement did not significantly predict creativity, while aggregated classroom-level engagement had a positive effect. These findings suggest that sustained teacher engagement fosters creative learning environments, implying the need for professional development programmes that promote consistent teacher engagement.
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