How can brainwriting transform divergent thinking sessions? Please complete our short 2024 survey to help us build season ten! In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett chat with emerging scholar Jimmy Wilson about the connections between creativity research and education. They dive into the growing use of brainwriting in creative thinking sessions, explaining how it benefits different types of learners. Cyndi shares her experiences and research, emphasizing the value of teaching students how to think creatively by delaying judgment and encouraging originality and fluency. Jimmy highlights a study involving Italian elementary students and refugees, suggesting that college admissions should consider creativity to reflect diverse backgrounds. Together, they explore a fun exercise where participants take on different personas to think more creatively and brainstorm new uses for everyday objects. They also discuss how varying the timing of feedback can enhance the creative process and share practical examples, like Neil Bergenroth’s use of rowing machines to teach STEM concepts. The conversation touches on equity in creativity, pointing out how cultural sensitivity and diverse environments can inspire new ideas. The hosts stress the importance of flexible and inclusive teaching methods to meet the needs of all learners. Wrapping up, they reflect on how creativity can drive positive change and help address challenges in education. Eager to bring more creativity into your school district? Check out our sponsor Curiosity2Create.org Check out our new website at FuelingCreativitypodcast.com What to learn more about Design Thinking in Education? Do you want to build a sustained culture of innovation and creativity at your school? Visit WorwoodClassroom.com to understand how Design Thinking can promote teacher creativity and support professional growth in the classroom. Are you looking for more Creativity and Education Resources, Check out CreativityandEducation.com Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!

Please complete our short survey to help us prepare for Season Ten of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast! In this final Season Nine debrief of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett celebrate the contributions of season nine's guests, including Colin Seale, Dr. Talia Goldstein, and Dr. Robert Sternberg, whose insights have enriched conversations on creativity in education. Cyndi and Matthew underscore the value of viewing the world through multiple perspectives, using theater education as a compelling example. They illustrate how theater fosters creativity by encouraging students to fill in gaps, embrace ambiguity, and empathize with diverse viewpoints. They also draw connections between theater and the field of law, highlighting the essential skill of embodying multiple perspectives as a critical competency. The conversation expands to explore the role of creative intelligence in education. Matthew emphasizes the importance of creative thinking in generating, refining, and applying ideas, noting that non-conformity often plays a pivotal role in nurturing creativity. This perspective is contrasted with the social pressures children face to conform, prompting a thought-provoking discussion about balancing adherence to norms with the courage to challenge them. Cyndi shares her personal experiences as a self-identified rule-follower, emphasizing the need to navigate this balance thoughtfully in different contexts. Together, the hosts delve into the environments where breaking rules may be more appropriate and how education can equip students to make informed decisions about when to push boundaries. Drawing on Sternberg's research, they explore the connection between creativity and academic success, particularly in helping students adapt to new life stages, such as the transition from high school to college. Check out our new website- Fueling Creativity in Education! Eager to bring more creativity into your school district? Check out our sponsor Curiosity2Create.org and CreativeThinkingNetwork.com What to learn more about Design Thinking in Education? Do you want to build a sustained culture of innovation and creativity at your school? Visit WorwoodClassroom.com to understand how Design Thinking can promote teacher creativity and support professional growth in the classroom. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!

What is transformational creativity, and how does it apply to the field of education?

In the second part of the double expresso episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, world-renowned creativity scholar Dr. Robert Sternberg dives into the evolving perceptions and applications of creativity over his 50-year career.

Together, they engage in a critical discourse on how modern education and standardized testing fail to genuinely value creativity. Sternberg's insightful critique highlights the misuse of creativity for personal and financial gain rather than societal benefit, introducing the concept of "pseudo transformational creativity," where leadership appears transformational but serves self-interests. He emphasizes the importance of learning from history to recognize and combat deceptive leadership, advocating for "true transformational creativity" that positively impacts society. Additionally, Sternberg discusses the alarming decline in moral and civic education in favor of test preparation, arguing for a balanced, value-integrated approach to teaching creativity.

The episode also tackles the implications of generative AI on creativity and cognitive abilities. Sternberg shares his concerns that excessive reliance on AI could erode human creativity and critical thinking, mentioning real-world incidents where students depended on AI against academic integrity guidelines. Sternberg offers valuable tips for educators, including promoting moral values, varying teaching styles, and encouraging independent thinking.

About Dr. Robert Sternberg:

Dr. Robert J. Sternberg is a Professor of Psychology in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University and an Honorary Professor of Psychology at Heidelberg University, Germany. Sternberg is a Past President of the American Psychological Association, the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, the Eastern Psychological Association, and the International Association for Cognitive Education and Psychology. Dr. Sternberg holds 13 honorary doctorates from 11 countries and has won more than two dozen awards for his work.

For a more extensive bio, click here.

Eager to bring more creativity into your school district? Check out our sponsor Curiosity2Create.org

Check out the new Fueling Creativity website!

What to learn more about Design Thinking in Education? Do you want to build a sustained culture of innovation and creativity at your school? Visit WorwoodClassroom.com to understand how Design Thinking can promote teacher creativity and support professional growth in the classroom. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!