Exploring Creativity and Inquiry through Digital Microscopy: Designing an Exhibition in Early Childhood Education
Francesca Granone, Dagmar Anita Jakobsen, Kristine Mjølhus, Jannike Petersen, Brit Michaelsen · Education and human development · 2025
This chapter explores a case study about how intentional learning spaces can foster young children’s creativity and inquiry through hands-on engagement with digital microscopy. It presents a project-based learning (PBL) approach in which early childhood education students designed an exhibition aimed at inspiring both children and educators to explore the microscopic world through artistic and mathematical lenses. Drawing on key educational theories, including Bishop’s mathematical activities, Feuerstein’s mediated learning, and Ross’s model of creative processes, the chapter illustrates how the exhibition design promoted problem-solving, persistence, and multimodal exploration and how it has been evaluated using a rubric. Through a thematic analysis of the reflections from the participating students, the role of digital tools in supporting discovery, collaboration, and engagement is highlighted. The findings suggest that integrating technology in playful and exploratory ways can cultivate curiosity, enhance critical thinking, and build children’s confidence in STEAM-related activities (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). This work provides practical insights for preservice and in-service teachers on how to create dynamic learning environments that bridge art, mathematics, and scientific inquiry, fostering a deeper connection between creativity and learning.