Unleashing Creativity in Education: Dr. Robert Sternberg on Defying the Crowd

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Dec 10, 2024

Dr. Robert Sternberg, a leading psychologist at Cornell University and an influential researcher on intelligence, dives into the essence of creativity and education. He discusses his innovative Rainbow Project, which showcases how creativity tests can enhance college admissions. Sternberg emphasizes the importance of persistence in overcoming rejection, defying societal norms for true innovation, and the integral link between practical and creative intelligence. He passionately advocates for valuing curiosity and resilience to foster a more dynamic educational landscape.

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ANECDOTE

Origin of Creativity Research

Dr. Sternberg's interest in creativity stemmed from his struggles and a pivotal moment in graduate school.
Realizing he needed a more proactive approach, he drew inspiration from his wife's 'people pieces' to study intelligence.

ADVICE

Passion and Broad Education

Pursue your passions and work hard, as these are key to a fulfilling life.
Embrace a broad education, as seemingly unrelated knowledge can become surprisingly relevant later.

ANECDOTE

Rainbow Project and its Challenges

Dr. Sternberg's Rainbow Project showed that adding creativity and practical intelligence tests to college admissions could improve predictions of success and reduce group differences.
Despite positive results, funding was cut, prompting his shift to academic administration.

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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.

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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.

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