‘I’ll Just Watch You For Now’: Exploring the Role of Place in Supporting Young Children’s Creativity in Online STEM Learning Environments

Abstract The learning environment has a meaningful impact on young children’s creativity. However, while research has explored the physical environment in terms of fostering creativity, less is known about online learning contexts. This article reports on the elements of the online learning environment that fostered young children’s creativity, specifically during STEM activities. In this case study, a group of first grade children in regional Australia engaged in a range of activities delivered online synchronously by a Science Discovery Centre (SDC) 700 km away. Guided by the A-E of Children’s Creativity framework, both multimodal video analysis and semi-structured interviews with all participants explored the learning environment element of place that supported the young children’s creative thinking. Based upon the findings, a series of recommendations are presented, designed to assist educators and service providers in preparing the learning environment to support young children’s creative STEM thinking in the online setting.