Synesthesia and Arts Education in Primary Education: Multisensory Creativity, Motivation, and Emotions in the Classroom
Abstract
Nowadays, fostering creativity, motivation, and emotions within educational environments is crucial for providing comprehensive, high-quality education. These concepts, often overlooked in classroom practice, play a fundamental role in human development and in preparing individuals to face contemporary challenges. To highlight their importance, a study was conducted to explore the extent to which synesthesia influences creativity, motivation, and emotion through imagery and artistic creation. The empirical experience, organised as a quasi-experimental project with pre-test and post-test measures and a mixed-methods research design, was conducted with Primary Education pupils aged 8 to 9 over a two-week period. The selected instruments included the CREA Creative Intelligence Test, the School Motivation Scale for Primary Students (EMEAP), and Robert Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions. The findings highlight that synesthesia can serve as a powerful educational tool to enhance students’ emotional experiences, as well as to foster increased creativity and motivation through arts-based programmes. The conclusions emphasise the importance of implementing innovative educational strategies, such as synesthetic approaches, sensory experimentation, and the promotion of emotional reflection and communication through art.
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