Social networks to improve the creative thinking of students: How does it works?

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to study the capabilities of social networks in the context of improving students' creative thinking within the framework of educational activities. Thus, an innovative concept of the online course Foreign Economic Activity in the Service Sector: Innovative Trends was developed; it was tested on the Facebook platform among the students of the [BLINDED] University and [BLINDED] University. The educational activity was divided into an individual activity and a group activity that involved the introduction of the Six Thinking Hats technology, which made it possible to organize and systematize students' creative thinking and focus on the main objectives of the course. According to students, the activation of creative thinking in the learning process was greatly affected by such elements of the concept of the educational course as daily educational practice (98%); joint projects (88%); thematic mentoring and supervision (92%); well-organized and structured individual (95%) and group discussion (89%); introduction of the Six Thinking Hats technology into the system of group and individual communications with the course participants, experts and moderators (87%). Learning in the Facebook environment had a dramatic impact on the development of communication and collaboration skills, creativity, critical thinking, digital literacy, and self-directedness while forming an intellectual basis for the generation of innovative solutions and creative improvisations within the framework of certain topics. The research can be useful for educators searching for innovative approaches to teaching.