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!

Are you ready for a double expresso with Dr. Robert Sternberg?

In the first expresso of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett speak with world-renowned psychologist Dr. Robert Sternberg to explore his research and theories on creativity. Sternberg delves into his pioneering work with the Rainbow Project at Yale, which demonstrated that adding creativity and practical intelligence tests to traditional analytical intelligence measures could better predict college success and reduce group differences. Despite successful results, Sternberg faced the challenge of sustaining funding when his findings contradicted the narrow focus of his sponsors, prompting him to shift to academic administration. He eventually implemented his ideas at Tufts University through the Kaleidoscope Project, emphasizing the importance of persistence, self-belief, and overcoming obstacles in the journey of creativity.

The episode also dives deep into Sternberg's theories on intelligence and creativity, including his definition of intelligence as adaptability and his "investment theory" of creativity. He underscores the need to defy societal pressures and personal biases to foster true innovation, sharing anecdotes from his own academic and professional experiences. Sternberg highlights the invaluable role of passion in learning, the benefits of a broad education, and the importance of balancing creative and practical intelligence. The conversation touches on the challenges educators face in engaging students and remaining open to new teaching methods, offering advice on overcoming institutional constraints. Stay tuned for Part 2, where Sternberg will discuss his latest theory on creativity and the future state of creativity in education.

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!

Why does theatre education matter?

In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood engage with Dr. Thalia Goldstein to explore the enriching world of theater education. Dr. Goldstein begins with the concept of a "consequence-free environment" in theater classrooms, where playfulness and the freedom to make mistakes foster both intra- and interpersonal skills that students can carry into various areas of their lives. Highlighting her three-year qualitative research, Dr. Goldstein introduces listeners to the "Acting Habits of Mind," vital psychological skills cultivated through theater, such as body awareness, emotional regulation, releasing inhibitions, and developing empathy. Through anecdotes and practical tips, she emphasizes the importance of incorporating physical activity, role play, and constructive peer critique in classroom settings to boost engagement and metacognitive thinking.

Dr. Goldstein shares the adaptability of theater education across developmental stages, from creative play in young children to complex role exploration in high school, underscoring the necessity of informed guidance from teachers. This episode serves as a compelling testament to theater's expansive role in fostering lifelong creative and critical thinking abilities.

About Dr. Thalia Goldstein:

Dr. Thalia Goldstein is an associate professor and director of the applied developmental psychology program at George Mason University, where she directs the Play, Learning, Arts, and Youth Lab, and co-directs the Mason Arts Research Center (a National Endowment for the Arts Lab). She is the co-editor of the journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts, and is a fellow of the American Psychological Association. Her research focuses on children’s and adolescent’s creative, social, and emotional development through engagement with pretend play and the arts. Goldstein’s academic work has been published in more than 75 articles, and funded by The National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and The John Templeton Foundation. She earned her BA from Cornell University, her MA and PhD from Boston College and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University. Her most recent book is “Why Theatre Education Matters: Understanding its Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Benefits”.

Check out our new website: FuelingCreativityPodcast.com

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

How might we infuse critical thinking into the classroom?

In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood welcome Colin Seale, a seasoned educator, attorney, and the founder of Think Law. Colin delves into how educators can ignite creative thinking in their classrooms through open-ended questions, fostering student creativity, and navigating existing educational systems while pushing for change. He emphasizes the need to maintain and nurture the innate curiosity each student possesses, challenging the conventional educational structures that often stifle imagination and innovative thinking. With captivating examples from his book "Thinking Like a Lawyer," Colin illustrates how everyday scenarios, such as questioning the value of traditions or analyzing courtroom cases, can develop critical and creative thinking skills in students of all backgrounds.

The discussion further explores the profound connection between creativity, educational equity, and the necessary visionary goals to tackle systemic issues like redlining and underinvestment in education. Seale underscores the importance of empowering students to visualize and work toward what "ought to be," fostering a sense of agency and problem-solving. From an inspiring classroom activity in Louisville to a teacher in Dayton ingeniously utilizing storytelling to teach historical events, Colin's insights provide a practical and transformative framework for educators. Colin also tackles the significance of mistake analysis and how understanding students' reasoning can enhance creative thinking.

About Colin Seale:

Colin Seale was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, where struggles in his upbringing gave birth to his passion for educational equity. Tracked early into gifted and talented programs, Colin was afforded opportunities his neighborhood peers were not. Using lessons from his experience as a math teacher, later as an attorney, and now as a keynote speaker, contributor to Forbes, The 74, Edutopia and Education Post and author of Thinking Like a Lawyer: A Framework for Teaching Critical Thinking to All Students (Prufrock Press, 2020) and Tangible Equity: A Guide for Leveraging Student Identity, Culture, and Power to Unlock Excellence In and Beyond the Classroom (Routledge, 2022), Colin founded thinkLaw, a multi-award-winning organization to help educators leverage inquiry-based instructional strategies to close the critical thinking gap and ensure they teach and reach all students, regardless of race, zip code or what side of the poverty line they are born into.

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!

In this latest episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, hosts Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood reflect on their journey through Season 9. They discuss the rapid pace of the semester and how balancing responsibilities can be a challenge without deliberate efforts to slow down. The hosts kick off their debrief by revisiting recent episodes, including conversations with Corey Gray on culturally responsive teaching, Dr. Edward Clapp on participatory creativity in education, and Dorta Nielsen from the Center for Creative Thinking in Denmark. They delve into key insights from these episodes, reflecting on the importance of recognizing diverse student backgrounds and contributions in the learning environment, as well as the instructional strategies that can foster a creative mindset.

Matthew and Cyndi acknowledge the value of seeing every student and encourage the adoption of a participatory creativity framework to celebrate individual contributions while fostering a collective creative process. This episode underscores the powerful impact of a creative mindset, sharing personal anecdotes and practical applications. Furthermore, the hosts tease upcoming episodes, including the much-anticipated conversations with creativity expert Dr. Robert Sternberg and a special Thanksgiving episode, promising an exciting conclusion to Season 9. For more in-depth discussions and to access over 100 interviews archived to date, visit the podcast's comprehensive website at fuelingcreativitypodcast.com.

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