2026-10-18T23:43:32Zhttps://ebyu-rdlopen.rawdatalibrary.net/oai/requestoai:ebyu-rdlopen.rawdatalibrary.net:ebyu/102582026-10-18T20:39:16Zopenairedrivercom_ebyu_10000col_ebyu_10001From comfort zone to growth zone: Experiential projects as catalysts for creativity in pre-service teachersSevimli-Celik, SerapGüvelioglu, ElifCreativityEarly childhoodExperiential learningHigher educationReflective practiceThis study aimed to analyze the creative experiences of early childhood pre-service teachers enrolled in a semester-long course designed to enhance their creative potential through experiential projects. Using a qualitative research design, this study explored the subjective experiences of 16 pre-service teachers, aged 21 to 23-years-old, who participated in a 14-week course focused on integrating creativity into early childhood education. Data were collected through weekly reflections, project reports, and multimedia documentation, capturing each pre-service teacher's creative journey. The findings revealed four key themes which characterized the pre-service teachers’ creative experiences: (1) learning a new skill, (2) expressing creativity and experiencing a sense of accomplishment, (3) overcoming challenges related to fear and insecurity, and (4) achieving personal fulfillment and professional growth. These open-ended projects fostered an environment where the pre-service teachers could take risks, embrace failure, and reflect on their development, building essential skills such as problem-solving, creative confidence, and resilience. This approach equipped pre-service teachers with the skills and mindset necessary to foster creativity in their future classrooms, supporting both their personal and professional growth. © 2025Elsevier Ltd2026Articlehttps://rdlopen.rawdatalibrary.net/r/ebyu/10258https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2025.1019941871-1871enThinking Skills and Creativityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttps://ebyu-rdlopen.rawdatalibrary.net/tr/items/ebyu/10258