The Creativity Choice: A Conversation with Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle

Jul 1, 2025

Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, a senior research scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of "The Creativity Choice," dives into the transformation of creative ideas into real outcomes. She emphasizes that creativity goes beyond the arts, playing a crucial role in education and problem-solving. Dr. Pringle dispels myths about creativity, illustrating how constraints can spark originality. She also discusses how emotions influence creativity, offering practical advice for educators to harness their feelings for better outcomes.

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INSIGHT

Creativity Transforms Ideas

Creativity involves more than just generating ideas; it focuses on transforming ideas into tangible outcomes.
This process helps in diverse tasks like lesson planning, curriculum design, and writing.

INSIGHT

Creativity Beyond the Arts

Creativity is not limited to the arts; it occurs in any field where originality and appropriateness matter.
It is a continuous development process, not a one-time idea followed by execution.

INSIGHT

Constraints Fuel Creativity

Constraints boost creativity by pushing us toward original solutions beyond habitual methods.
The belief that creativity thrives on complete freedom is a common myth; challenges stimulate originality.

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In this special summer edition of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood welcome back Dr. Zorana Pringle, senior research scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, to discuss her new book, "The Creativity Choice." In a concise, listen-and-learn format, Dr. Pringle offers a compelling overview of her book, which explores what happens after we've come up with creative ideas—emphasizing the process of transforming those ideas into tangible outcomes.

The conversation highlights that creativity isn't limited to the arts; it's a multifaceted process relevant to lesson planning, curriculum design, and problem-solving in any educational context. Dr. Pringle also addresses common misconceptions about Teaching Creativity, such as the belief that it requires complete freedom or is only about idea generation, emphasizing instead the importance of constraints and the emotional journey involved in creative work.

Listeners will gain practical insights into how emotions impact different stages of the creative process, from playful ideation to critical evaluation. Dr. Pringle shares actionable advice, encouraging educators (and anyone cultivating creativity) to recognize their own emotional patterns and leverage them—using energized moods for brainstorming and more subdued moods for critical review.

The episode not only introduces inspiring new perspectives on creativity in education but also serves as a sneak peek into Dr. Pringle’s book, recommended for educators, leaders, and coaches alike. Be sure to visit the podcast website for the complete summer reading list, and stay tuned for more enriching episodes in this summer professional development series.

Eager to bring more creativity into your school district?

Check out our sponsor Curiosity2Create.org and join their Creativity Network for Educators at Curiosity2Connect!

Check out our Podcast Website to dive deeper into Creativity in Education!

For more information on Creativity in Education, check out:

Matt's Website: Worwood Classroom

Cyndi's Website: Creativity and Education