Fueling Creativity in Education

It's our three year anniversary! In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Ciyndi Burnett celebrate three years of producing the podcast. They take a break from their regular episode format to reflect on the impact of the last three years and the insights gained from their conversations with guests. Throughout the episode, they discuss the evolution of their thinking on creativity in education, share personal growth experiences from producing the podcast, and ponder future developments in the field. The hosts delve into various topics, including the potential need for a revolution in education, the importance of modeling creative behavior in teaching, and the multifaceted nature of creativity. They also touch on the use of generative AI in podcast production and the possibility of expanding their audience globally. Listeners are encouraged to share their predictions for the future of creativity in education and to reach out for potential guest appearances. 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!

Let's bridge the gap! In this debrief episode, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett discuss key takeaways from the past three episodes of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast. They reflect on insights from guests  Dr. Mike Rucker, Dr. Todd Lubart, and Shafina Vohra. The conversation delves into the potential impact of identifying creative potential in students at a young age and the implications it may have on their further development. The hosts also explore the idea of using unconventional materials, such as LEGO® or common household items, to engage students in learning, while also highlighting the importance of educators' love and passion for their work and the potential for ideas to have an impact beyond the classroom. Listeners are given a glimpse into the hosts' upcoming appearances at the Learning and the Brain Conference in New York City and the Torrance Festival of Ideas Conference, where they will be sharing their expertise on 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!  

How might you use LEGO® to help transform your teaching? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett are joined by the innovative A-level psychology teacher, Shafina Vohra, to explore the transformative power of creativity in the classroom. Vohra shares her personal journey into teaching, driven by passion following a life-altering car crash, and her subsequent development of a widely acclaimed LEGO® innovation program. This program serves not just as a teaching tool but as an inspiring catalyst for creativity across multiple subjects. The episode dives deep into the myriad ways teachers can foster a creativity-rich environment, from leveraging LEGO® for teaching fractions in math to enhancing engagement in history lessons. Vohra emphasizes the critical balance between research and practice in education, advocating for teachers to take risks, collaborate outside their silos, and stay in tune with the latest educational research to inform and refine their teaching practices. About Shafina Vohra: Shafina Vohra is an A-level psychology teacher in London, where she teaches in an inner city college and is currently doing a PhD in Design Engineering at the Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College. Her focus is creativity in the curriculum, and to this end, she has designed and developed a LEGO® Innovation Programme that is student-led, comprising industry projects, teacher training, and play, with a focus on creating workshops for primary schools around solutions for real-world issues. This is now a flagship, free community programme, and the work that she has done earned her spot in the top 10 finalists for the 2023, for the Global Teacher Prize!    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 generative AI change the way we engage divergent thinking?  In part two of this double expresso of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, Dr. Todd Lubart discusses the evolving landscape of creative potential and education. With insights drawn from his extensive research in creativity, Dr. Lubart delves into the changing nature of divergent thinking in the digital age. He examines the impact of generative AI on idea generation and the challenges it presents in selecting and developing the most promising ideas. Additionally, Dr. Lubart explores the future of creativity in education, shedding light on how integrating generative AI and virtual reality can provide tailored, immersive experiences that stimulate creativity. Listeners gain access to valuable tips for educators, such as investing in creative challenges, enhancing the measurement of creative potential, and focusing on individual learner profiles. As Dr. Lubart emphasizes the importance of personalized approaches, he underscores the significance of educators designing activities that cater to the unique creative needs of their students. Whether you're a teacher looking to enrich the learning experience or an emerging scholar seeking to explore the intersection of creativity and education, this episode provides a compelling understanding of the changing dynamics of creativity in the classroom and beyond. 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 a captivating discussion, Dr. Todd Lubart, a distinguished creativity researcher and Professor of Psychology at Université de Paris, shares his insights on measuring the creative potential of students. He reveals the EPoC battery, a tool for assessing creativity across various domains. The conversation addresses how environmental factors influence creativity and the role of schools in fostering it. Strategies for nurturing both convergent and divergent thinking in the classroom are highlighted, encouraging educators to recognize and support diverse creative talents.

How might you build more fun into your classroom? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Drs. Matthew Worwood and Cyndi Burnett engage with Dr. Mike Rucker, organizational psychologist and author of "The Fun Habit." Diving into the necessity of fun and pleasure in educational settings, Mike stresses how essential joy and enjoyment are in the daily routine of both learners and educators. He shares strategies such as "activity bundling," exploring the concept of novelty in learning, and the hedonic flexibility principle—all aimed at revamping the classroom with creative and engaging methods. The episode unpacks the delicate balance between routine and innovation in learning environments, discusses the effects of burnout on educators, and underscores the power of incorporating student input to co-create exciting educational experiences. Mike, alongside Matthew and Cyndi, also exemplifies how to diagnose and address the absence of enjoyment in schools, driving the conversation toward practical solutions to enhance engagement and enthusiasm from elementary to higher education levels. About Dr. Michael Rucker Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in publications like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of the best-selling book The Fun Habit, which is out now.   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 Season 8, part one debrief episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast. In this episode, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett reflect on three insightful interviews from the season. They share key takeaways from interviews with Dr. Janet Rafner, Dr. Maureen Carroll, and Todd Henry. From exploring the intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence to the importance of restorative practices for teachers, this debrief provides valuable insights and thought-provoking discussions. Join us as we delve into the world of creativity in education and be inspired to infuse creativity into teaching and learning. 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 educators instill a sense of bravery in their classrooms? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, hosts Drs. Matthew Worwood and Cyndi Burnett sit down with guest Todd Henry, a self-proclaimed "arms dealer for the creative revolution." Todd shares his insights on the importance of defining the problem effectively in a team to ensure progress and the significance of implementing practices and disciplines to sustain effective work in the workplace. The conversation delves into the concept of bravery, distinct from boldness, and the habit of bravery as a choice made in the moment of need. The episode explores practical tips for educators based on Henry's "Brave Habit" book, focusing on instilling a vision of what's possible and allowing students agency, along with encouraging students to step beyond their fears and consider a better future. The discussion ends on a note for educators to encourage students to ask uncomfortable questions in order to identify areas where bravery could be warranted. The episode provides valuable takeaways for educators looking to infuse creativity and bravery into their teaching approaches. Check out Todd's book, Brave Habit, here! About Todd Henry: Todd Henry considers himself the “arms dealer for the creative revolution”.  He teaches leaders and organizations how to establish practices that lead to everyday brilliance.  He is the author of 7 books, including the Brave Habit, which we will talk about today, and speaks and consults across dozens of industries on creativity, leadership, and passion for work.  He hosts a podcast called the Daily Creative podcast that has had nearly 20 million downloads.  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 if educators completed a creative residency? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Drs. Matthew Worwood and Cyndi Burnett delve into a captivating discussion with guest Dr. Maureen Carroll about the dynamic landscape of professional development for educators. Maureen Carroll sheds light on different teacher responses and goals within professional development settings, underscoring the imperative of self-reflection in assimilating new knowledge to enhance their teaching methods. They tackle the concept of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and recognize the value PLCs have in fostering trust and robust relationships among teaching professionals, setting the stage for risk-taking and honest exchanges.  Additionally, they highlight the Creative Residencies program initiated by Carroll, which is aimed at rejuvenating educators by immersing them in creativity through artist-led experiences. The timing and objectives of such creative ventures are also examined, pinpointing their optimal placement within the academic year.  Maureen's Website Maureen Carroll, Ph.D., is the co-Founder of Lime Design and taught at Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school) for over a decade. She was also the Director of REDlab, which conducts research on design and learning and was a lecturer in Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education. Carroll has published work in The Journal of Research in STEM Education, The International Journal of Art & Design Education, The Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research, BASE Innovation Journal, Design Studies, and The National Council of Teachers of English Voices from the Middle Journal. Prior to founding Lime Design, Carroll was the co-Founder of Bay Breeze Educational Resources, a curriculum design firm that integrated content area learning with media, the arts and popular culture. Carroll has a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in Education: Language, Literacy and Culture. 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 episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, Dr. Janet Rafner, a distinguished expert in human-AI interaction and creativity, joins hosts Drs. Matthew Worwood and Cyndi Burnett to delve into the world of computational creativity and human-AI co-creativity. Rafner illuminates the distinction between the two, emphasizing that while computational creativity pertains to algorithms creating independently, human-AI co-creativity celebrates the synergistic partnership between human intellect and algorithmic suggestions in the creative process. Together, they explore the role of generative AI in creative writing, discussing its use in enhancing writing styles, content development, and character creation, as well as its potential to spur imagination through multimodal suggestions like sound bites and images. They stress the importance of educators and students selecting tools that bolster creativity, addressing the critical ethical considerations regarding data privacy, the ethics of AI training, and the ownership of creative output. The conversation takes a practical turn as Dr. Rafner and the hosts tackle the implications of generative AI usage in education. They advocate for incorporating discussions on the appropriateness of AI tools in different creative phases and emphasize the importance of documenting the AI interaction process for fostering critical analysis and transparency among students. Addressing administrative concerns, they consider the necessity of training in effective AI tool usage and offer insights into the challenges posed by plagiarism detection in AI-assisted work. Moreover, Rafner projects a future job market where AI doesn't replace, but augments, human roles, citing the need for upskilling to adapt to AI integration in fields like radiology and education.  Dr. Janet Rafner: Dr. Janet Rafner is the Junior Center Director at the Center for Hybrid Intelligence, Department of Management, Aarhus University, and a fellow at the Aarhus Institute for Advanced Studies co-funded by SHAPE, the center for shaping digital citizenship. She is known for her interdisciplinary research in human-AI interaction and creativity. Her publications span citizen science, psychometric creativity assessment, hybrid intelligence, game based assessment, and computational co-creativity. Dr. Rafner has received prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Sonophillia Foundation Research Award, a Fulbright Fellowship, and a Salzburg Global Fellowship. 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!