SPECIAL: Teaching for Creativity and Teaching Creatively in Higher Education

How might we teach more creatively and teach for creativity in higher education?

In this special higher education episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett delve into the vital role of creativity in higher education with special guest Dr. John Cabra. They discuss the challenges faced in cultivating original ideas and creative thinking skills among students, highlighting the need to integrate creativity into curriculum and activities. They emphasize the transferability of creative thinking skills into various aspects of students' lives and stress the importance of infusing creativity into teaching and learning without adding extra time.

Throughout the episode, examples are shared of successfully incorporating creativity skills into different classroom settings within higher education. They explore the impact of implementing creative thinking techniques, such as curiosity exercises and divergent thinking, to engage students in the learning process effectively. 

John Cabra, drawing from his experience teaching creativity in a business context, underscores the significance of interactive teaching methods in fostering creativity among students. They touch upon the interdisciplinary approach to creativity in education, encouraging contributions from various fields beyond just fine arts.

John Cabra shares valuable tips for infusing creativity into the classroom, including encouraging students to take risks and employing mind maps to manage complex information. The episode also introduces Cyndi and John's new book, Infusing Creative Thinking into Higher Education, which underscores the need for instructors to integrate creative thinking skills into both themselves and their teaching methods.

Order a copy of Infusing Creative Thinking into Higher Education here!

About Dr. John Fitzergald Cabra:

 

John is a Professor Emeritus at the State University of New York at Buffalo State University’s Center for Applied Imagination. He also served as a visiting professor at two universities in Colombia.

Previously, John served as the Program Director for Buffalo State University’s Service-Learning and Civic Engagement program in Myanmar. He co-founded a nonprofit organization to support Myanmar’s education reform and assist teachers in hiding due to their involvement in the civil disobedience movement. His dedication extends to collaborating with Myanmar’s National Unity Government Ministry of Education to catalyze transformative changes in the country’s education system.

Recognized as a Fulbright Scholar, John completed his Fulbright assignment at the Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga (UNAB) in Colombia. His influence was instrumental in reshaping UNAB’s organizational culture, leading to the university becoming the first creative campus in Latin America. This transformation helped to propel UNAB to claim the title of the most innovative university in Colombia in 2023. As a testament to his excellence in teaching, John received the State University of New York Chancellor’s and Buffalo State University President’s Awards.

John also contributes his expertise as an innovation facilitator at Knowinnovation, a consulting firm that fosters interdisciplinary discussions among scientists and groundbreaking research. He has provided invaluable training and organizational development services to prominent organizations, including Fisher-Price Toys, American Airlines, Quaker Oats, the British Home Office, the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, NASA, Harvard University, the National Oceanographic Laboratory System, the U.S. Embassy in Myanmar, the United States Department of Agriculture, Georgia Tech, and the University of Michigan.

His academic journey includes earning a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from the University of Manchester, England, and obtaining an M.S. in Creativity and Change Leadership from the State University of New York. John’s academic contributions are reflected in co-authored articles published in esteemed business, engineering, and innovation journals. He co-authored the book Organizational Creativity: A Practical Guide for Innovators and Entrepreneurs, a testament to his scholarly achievements.

 

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. 

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