Fueling Creativity in Education

Can we teach students to think creatively? In the latest episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett delve into the work of E. Paul Torrance,the father of creativity in education. This fourth installment of the Listen and Learn series continues the exploration of classic literature in the field of creativity, providing a historical perspective that bridges the gap between research and teaching practices. Beginning with Torrance's groundbreaking paper, "Can We Teach Children to Think Creatively?" published in 1972, Cyndi and Matthew discuss the evolution of creativity studies from Guilford's pioneering speech in 1950 to Torrance's influential theories and tests. Cyndi emphasizes Torrance's vulnerability and the qualitative evidence he presented, while Matthew shares his personal journey into creativity, inspired by Sir Ken Robinson and furthered through applying Torrance's principles in his own classroom. The episode also spotlights the variety of strategies and modalities Torrance examined for teaching creativity, from creative problem-solving to motivation and environmental factors. Cyndi reflects on her own transformative experience with Dr. Roger Firestein's course and the profound impact it had on her life. Meanwhile, Matthew recounts his early career challenges and eventual discovery of the importance of originality in student projects, leading to a dedicated focus on teaching creative thinking skills.  Check out our Fueling Creativity in Education Website!   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 fourth episode of the Listen and Learn Classic Literature series for summer 2024, co-hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett delve into the enduring work of Donald MacKinnon and his seminal article, "Nature and Nurture of Creative Talent," published in 1962. This episode unpacks MacKinnon's findings on the characteristics that define creative individuals, highlighting the balance between intellectual mastery and non-intellectual traits, such as openness to emotions and diverse experiences. The discussion also brings forth the importance of identifying and nurturing creative potential, drawing parallels to the challenges and practices of contemporary education. Matthew and Cyndi reflect on MacKinnon's emphasis on supporting creativity beyond traditional intelligence measures and explore how these historical perspectives are still very much relevant in today's teaching and learning environments. Midway through the episode, the hosts share anecdotes and insights about the pressures of modern parenting and the importance of fostering an environment that encourages diverse experiences and interests. Bearing in mind MacKinnon's findings regarding the impact of varied life experiences on creative development, Matthew and Cyndi discuss practical ways educators and parents alike can support children's creative growth outside academic achievements. They wrap up by connecting these theories to real-life scenarios and current educational practices, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the intricate dynamics of nurturing 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!

In the third episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast's summer 2024 Listen and Learn series, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett delve into Alex Osborn's seminal work, "Applied Imagination." They discuss how this classic book, authored by Osborn, an advertising executive turned creativity scholar, laid the groundwork for modern creative problem-solving techniques. The hosts elaborate on Osborn's systematic approach to harnessing creative imagination, highlighting well-known strategies such as brainstorming. They also delve into how brainstorming should be employed effectively within the classroom context, examining both historical and recent perspectives on its efficacy. Throughout the episode, Matthew and Cyndi dissect the various strategies Osborn proposed, including the well-known SCAMPER tool, which was also originally developed by Osborn. They discuss the evolution of these tools and methodologies in contemporary education settings, emphasizing the importance of adapting them to different classroom environments. Adding an interactive twist, they introduce a secret code game for listeners to engage with and reveal the latest letter in the code. Listeners are encouraged to visit Jimmy Wilson's commentary on their website for further insights into the discussed literature. The episode underscores that while these creative processes have evolved over time, many foundational elements remain relevant and influential in today's educational frameworks.   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 your definition of creativity? In this second episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast Listen and Learn Series, hosts Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood dive into the profound work of Mel Rhodes with a focus on his influential 1961 article, "The Analysis of Creativity." The discussion elaborates on Rhodes' quest to define creativity, exploring how his attempt gave rise to the seminal framework known as the "Four P's" of creativity: Person, Process, Press, and Product. Cyndi and Matthew dissect each P, relating them to various thought-provoking episodes from their extensive podcast library. From the creative traits studied by researchers like James Kaufman to the deliberate acts of creativity discussed in the processes of design thinking and creative problem solving, this episode intricately weaves theoretical insights with practical applications in educational settings. Moreover, the hosts highlight the relevance of environmental and sociocultural factors (Press) and celebrate creative outcomes (Product) through memorable podcast episodes involving global issues and innovative projects. As a special treat, listeners are invited to participate in a fun-filled codebreaking challenge, with a chance to win a creative prize pack! With historical context and actionable insights, this episode serves as both a deep dive into creativity research and an inspiring call to action for educators striving to foster creativity in their classrooms. Mel Rhodes article.   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!

It's summer! Join hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett on this first episode of the Listen and Learn Series as they delve into the seminal work of Joy Paul Guilford, often regarded as one of the foundational figures in creativity research. Set against the backdrop of the 1950s, Guilford's influential address as head of the American Psychological Association called attention to the alarming neglect of creativity in psychological studies and education. This episode explores Guilford's differentiation between convergent and divergent thinking and discusses how his ideas laid the groundwork for the structured study of creativity.  Matthew and Cyndi also highlight the historical context, noting the United States' post-Sputnik focus on bolstering its educational systems to produce more creative scientists and engineers. They draw intriguing parallels between Guilford's observations about early "thinking machines" and today's discussions about generative AI and its impact on human cognition. Concluding with reflections on the cyclical challenges in education and a humorous take on the special code letter for this series, this episode offers listeners a concise yet rich exploration of creativity research's past and its implications for the future. Don't miss out on hearing about the Fueling Creativity in Education summer contest and how you could win a special Fueling Creativity in Education podcast prize pack! Find the original article "Creativity" by J.P. Guilford here.   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!

Welcome to the kickoff of our "Listen & Learn" summer series for 2024 on the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast! Hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood, Dr. Cyndi Burnett, and our newest addition, Scholar in Residence Jimmy Wilson, are here to bring you a unique blend of creativity research and practical classroom insights. With sunglasses on and excitement in the air, this introduction episode sets the stage for a six-week journey through classical literature of creativity, selected to enhance your professional learning. Cyndi and Matthew highlight the importance of making these episodes short and insightful—perfect for those of you enjoying a relaxing summer while staying committed to educational growth. Jimmy Wilson, a doctoral student from the University of Connecticut, joins the team as a scholar-in-residence to inject fresh, emerging perspectives into the conversation. Jimmy brings a wealth of experience from his years of teaching and a deep-rooted passion for neurodiverse learners in creativity and education. He shares his process of connecting scholarly research with practical classroom application, offering a sneak peek into his blog contributions on the podcast's website. The episode wraps up with a fun, interactive game where listeners collect letters at the end of each episode to form a secret code word, leading to fabulous prizes and the chance to join the podcast as a special guest. Don't miss out on this vibrant start to a summer of learning and creativity!

Let's wrap up this academic year! In this special episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, hosts Dr.Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett dive into an intriguing discussion inspired by the last nine months!  Exciting updates include the unveiling of their new website, FuelingCreativityPodcast.Com, which will house past episodes, debriefs, and upcoming enhancements like transcripts. In a forward-looking segment, they preview their "Listen and Learn" summer series, aimed at offering light professional development for educators during the break. Matthew and Cyndi also celebrate their favorite podcast moments, including insightful conversations with creativity experts. The episode features discussions on the successful merge of teacher creativity frameworks with existing assessment systems at the Teacher Innovation Studio, citing both challenges and remarkable growth. Cyndi reflects on her accomplishment of co-authoring the book "Infusing Creative Thinking in Education," while Matthew shares highlights from his teaching journey and work with teachers on creative frameworks. The hosts delve into the necessity of infusing creative thinking skills into higher education for better engagement and learning outcomes. They also explore the impact of AI technologies on education, forecasting more personalized learning tools and ethical implementation practices in the coming academic year. Finally, they emphasize the importance of real-world connections post-pandemic and share innovative strategies for integrating AI into creative classroom activities. 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 special episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood, Dr. Cyndi Burnett, guests Dr. James Kaufman, and musical theater composer Dana Rowe delve deep into the intersection of theater, creativity, and education. Matthew opens up about his personal journey and how embracing his true self has enhanced his ability to foster creativity in others. Dana shares invaluable tips for educators to rekindle the spark of creativity within their classrooms, including creating a safe environment for emotional exploration and integrating musical theater exercises to help students experiment with various identities. The hosts also emphasize the collaborative essence of theater, exemplified by stories of on-stage mishaps and improvisational adaptability, which not only entertain but also underscore the importance of skills like active listening and quick thinking. James shares his wide-ranging insights on creativity, touching on how theater intersects with domains such as music, storytelling, science, and technology. Dana and James discuss their collaborative effort on a book that draws inspiration from musical theater characters. The hosts and guests share personal anecdotes about the profound impact of theater on their own lives, careers, and family experiences. This heartwarming episode fosters a deeper understanding of how creativity and collaboration in theater can enrich educational experiences, empowering educators to unlock their students' unique gifts and strengths. Lessons in Creativity from Musical Theatre Characters book Teacher Round Table Documentary  About Our Guests: Dr. James Kaufman is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut. He is one of the leading researchers in the field of creativity,  authoring, and editing over 50 books. He has published more than 300 papers, and three well-known theories of creativity, including the Four-C Model of Creativity.  He has co-authored several books for educators including Teaching for Creativity in the Common Core Classroom, Nurturing Creativity in the Classroom, and Being Creative Inside and Outside of the Classroom. Recently he published the book lessons in creativity from musical theatre characters with Dana Rowe.   Dana P. Rowe is a New York-based American composer and musical director whose works have been performed in NYC, the West End and around the world. His off-Broadway musical, Zombie Prom, has reached cult status and was filmed starring RuPaul and Katy Mixon. There have been more than 3,500 different productions around the world. Dana is also a certified professional development coach who specializes in working with creative professionals! 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 are some quick and easy activities that could help you bring creativity into your life? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett are joined by guests Josh Seidenfeld and Mark Lion in a special discussion centered on overcoming creative blocks and integrating playful, creative practices into education. Josh and Mark, founders of the Messier platform, share their journey of creating a space for consistent creative practice and how they collaborated with creativity scholars like Dr. James Kaufman to develop their innovative app. The conversation delves into the significance of retaining a sense of play and the necessity of looking at creativity beyond traditional arts. A unique exercise, coming up with excuses for not attending a friend's wedding, serves as a practical and amusing demonstration of divergent thinking. The episode also highlights the importance of facilitating fun experiences in educational settings and the role of skills such as shifting perspectives and staying curious. Listeners are introduced to various creative exercises, including taking pictures from different perspectives, creating thematic playlists, and writing poems from unique viewpoints, illustrating practical ways to foster creativity in classrooms. Mark emphasizes that even five-minute creative activities can prompt deeper creative exploration, and Josh underscores the value of incremental creativity in our daily lives and the app's role in encouraging these moments. This final pre-summer episode encourages educators to use the discussed exercises and resources over the break to cultivate a lifelong commitment to creativity. Download the Messier App here for free! About Josh Seidenfeld and Mark Lion: Josh Seidenfeld and Mark Lion are founders of Messier, a platform to help people enjoy the benefits of a consistent creative practice. Messier advisors include some of the leaders in creativity psychology research, including James C. Kaufman, Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, and Roni Reiter-Palmon. Josh is a longtime creative person, having produced two albums with his band, Boy in the Bubble. Day jobs most recently included climate projects at Apple and Meta. He lives in Oakland with his wife and two daughters, whose creativity constantly inspires him. Mark founded and led Lion Interactive, a digital design agency in the San Francisco area, for 25 years. Clients have included McKinsey and the Asian Art Museum. Notable projects include design leadership in Texture, which was acquired by Apple and incorporated into Apple News. Mark (also) lives in Oakland with his wife and son, where their weekends are usually filled with maker projects. 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!    

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.  Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!