An Investigation Into the Effect of In-Service Training of Problem-Solving Skills With Two Approaches: E-Learning and Blended Learning on the Development of Creativity of Educational Managers in Schools in Ray City
Keywords:
blended learning, In-service training, e-learning, creativity, problem-solving skillsAbstract
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of in-service training of problem-solving skills through two approaches—e-learning and blended learning—on the creativity development of educational managers in Ray city.
Methodology: This quasi-experimental research employed a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population included 192 school managers in Ray city, from which 60 participants with average Torrance Creativity scores were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received eight sessions of problem-solving training via blended learning, while the control group received the same content through e-learning. The Torrance Standard Creativity Questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) in SPSS.
Findings: MANCOVA results indicated a significant difference in overall creativity scores between the two groups (F=38.99, p<0.001), favoring the blended learning group. Significant effects were also found on the creativity subcomponents: originality (F=21.21, p<0.001), fluency (F=28.28, p<0.001), flexibility (F=12.04, p<0.001), and elaboration (F=25.63, p<0.001), all showing greater improvement in the blended learning group.
Conclusion: The results demonstrate that problem-solving training delivered through a blended learning approach is more effective than e-learning alone in enhancing the creativity of educational managers. Combining face-to-face interaction with digital resources appears to significantly support cognitive, emotional, and executive skill development in school leadership.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Marjan Masoomifard, Abbas Shayestehfar, Vahideh Alipour, Ziba Nouri (Author)
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