Fueling Creativity in Education

Join Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett as they share their top five insights from the last five episodes of the podcast! They celebrate reaching 50,000 downloads of their podcast and express gratitude to their listeners.  Dr. Burnett highlights a thought-provoking insight from Colleen Kelly's episode about not letting one course or skill stop someone from achieving their dreams. She discusses the importance of helping students overcome hurdles and challenges to foster their intrinsic motivation and encourage their pursuit of their passions. This insight sparks a discussion on the connection between artistry and teaching, and the need for teachers to have creative outlets to fuel their artistry in the classroom. Dr. Worwood shares his takeaway from Eric Booth's episode, focusing on the relationship between acting on stage and teaching in the classroom. He reflects on how the novelty and originality that comes with performing for the first time can engage and captivate an audience and relates it to his experience of teaching multiple sections of the same class. He discusses the challenge of maintaining artistry and avoiding staleness when teaching repeated content and suggests the importance of constantly tapping into creativity to bring freshness to the classroom. The hosts also discuss the importance of technology evaluation and innovative teaching, drawing insights from Jim Diamond's episode. They explore the difference between creativity and innovation in the classroom, highlighting the need for creativity as the upfront process and innovation as the implementation and assessment of creative strategies. They touch upon the role of technology as a catalyst for creativity and the need for teachers to constantly reinvent their instructional approaches. The episode concludes with a preview of upcoming episodes, including a Thanksgiving special and a mini listen-and-learn series on AI. The hosts express their excitement for the future of the podcast and invite listeners to join the conversation and share their experiences and insights.

In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett dive into the fascinating world of technology tools in education with special guest Dr. Jim Diamond.  One of the key themes discussed is the importance of evaluating tools regularly to support student learning. They explore how the context in which these tools are used can significantly vary from place to place, and what works in one educational setting may not work in another. Additionally, they delve into the need for educators to assess the affordances of these tools and determine if they align with their goals and objectives. Creativity also takes center stage in this episode. They discuss evaluating creativity in tools and techniques that stimulate divergent thinking in students. To recognize and foster creativity in their classrooms, educators are encouraged to define creativity in a specific context and set clear assessment criteria. Finally, the discussion looks at the potential of AI technologies like Chat GPT and the ethical considerations surrounding their use. Jim shares his thoughts on how Chat GPT can facilitate productive dialogue and brainstorming between educators and students while emphasizing the need for critical thinking and evaluation of AI-produced content. Tune in to this thought-provoking episode for valuable insights on evaluating and incorporating technology tools and creative thinking 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 this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett interview Eric Booth, a thought leader in teaching artistry.  He shares his experience as a teaching artist, highlighting the crucial role they play in activating learners' artistry and helping them express themselves in various artistic disciplines. Eric also discusses the need to support the artistry of educators and create a classroom culture that encourages creativity. He proposes practical strategies for incorporating regular creative activities and fostering intrinsic motivation in students. He shares his insights on activating our creative capacity as a continuous process, similar to exercising a muscle. Eric also discusses the challenges of replicating discussions in different sections of his teaching, recognizing the need to be flexible and open to new approaches. Overall, this thought-provoking episode explores the intersection of creativity and education, emphasizing the importance of fostering artistry in learners and educators alike. Join us as we dive into the practical strategies, personal experiences, and insightful perspectives shared by Eric Booth. 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. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett are joined by Dr. Colleen Kelley, creator and founder of Kids Chemical Solutions, a comic book-based curriculum for ages 8 to 108. Dr. Kelley shares her unique approach to teaching chemistry, emphasizing the importance of incorporating characters and imagination into the classroom. She believes that without these elements, chemistry remains invisible to students, leading to memorization rather than true understanding. Dr. Kelley highlights the need to nurture students' imagination as an essential skill in science education. She helps students visualize and comprehend complex concepts like molecules by using drawings and characters. She also emphasizes the importance of recognizing that the teacher's level of understanding may not align with their students and provides strategies for creating an "onboarding ramp" to bridge the gap. Furthermore, Dr. Kelley explores the early introduction of chemistry in education and how it can better prepare students for future pursuits. She discusses the intergenerational aspect of learning and encourages parents to engage in creative activities with their children to foster curiosity and understanding of the world around them. Lastly, Dr. Kelley shares her experience developing her comic book curriculum and its impact on students and parents. She emphasizes the power of creativity in addressing instructional challenges and encourages educators to explore different disciplines to stimulate their own creativity. Using storytelling and imaginative approaches, she aims to make chemistry more accessible and enjoyable for learners of all ages. Molecular Literacy Packet Free Audio Books Dr. Colleen Kelley Dr. Colleen Kelley is the Creator and Founder of Kids’ Chemical Solutions (www.kidschemicalsolutions.com), which is a comic-book-based curriculum for kids ages 8 – 108. Her journey as a chemist began at The University of Richmond, where she received her B.S. in Chemistry. She fell in love with the world of discovery and research and wanted to continue to explore more chemistry, so she completed her Ph.D. in chemistry at Penn State University at the age of 24. Fast forward 30 years later to the tail-end of her career teaching chemistry at the University of Arizona, Colleen finds herself captivated by the question, “Why do my students think chemistry is SO hard?” She has discovered that learning chemistry is very much like learning how to read, and she created the term Molecular Literacy to describe how chemistry is best understood. 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, Matthew Worwood and Cyndi Burnett have the pleasure of speaking with Anne Rizza, an experienced and dedicated High School English teacher with an impressive 24-year tenure.   Anne attended the Teacher's Innovation Studio, where she learned how to put her creativity into action to help identify a challenge in her classroom. At the time, Anne's students were using Google Slides, but they were simply filling the slides with text, leading to a lack of engagement. Anne decided to introduce Canva to her students and teach them how to use it effectively to captivate their audience.Anne explains that it took small steps to get her students to remove excessive text from their presentations, resulting in a significant improvement in their engagement levels. By the third semester, she noticed that the only text on the screen was the film title and perhaps a term, allowing the students' presentations to focus on visual storytelling rather than relying on written information. Learn more about Teachers Innovation Studio at Workspace CT, at www.teachersinnovationstudio.org.   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. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett are joined by Dr. Camille McKayle, who shares her insights on developing creativity in the higher education system at the University of Virgin Islands in her role as Provost. Camille discusses the importance of teaching Creative Problem Solving (CPS) and promoting a growth mindset to foster creative thinking among students. She highlights the positive impact of these approaches, with students who go through the program achieving higher GPAs in subsequent semesters. Camille also emphasizes the significance of appointing Igniters, individuals who are resourceful and eager to engage with new ideas. The Igniters receive training in Creative Problem Solving (CPS) and offer guidance to units in their problem-solving efforts. She reveals that the university president has shown support for the Creativity Lab, utilizing its services for sessions and involving the CPS process in the development of an innovative building. Throughout the episode, Camille delves into her own journey with creativity, from her fascination with number theory and the thinking process of mathematicians to her realization that everyone has the capacity to be creative. She describes the Boost program at the University of the Virgin Islands, which targets students with a GPA of 2.5 or below and focuses on creative problem solving, growth mindset, and entrepreneurial skills. Overall, this episode delves into the importance of creative thinking in education and how it can empower students to believe in their abilities. The ideas discussed here are not only applicable within the UVI community but also offer valuable insights for educators and institutions worldwide.   About Dr. Camille McKayle: Dr. Camille A. McKayle is Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). As Provost, she led the development of UVI’s first PhD program in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change, which graduated its first PhD recipients in 2018. She has also been instrumental in starting a Creativity Lab at UVI, which serves to train faculty, staff and students in creative problem solving, as well as facilitate planning and visioning through a creative approach. Dr. McKayle received her Ph.D. in Mathematics, from Lehigh University. Additionally, she completed a Master’s Certificate in Creativity and Change Leadership from Buffalo State College’s International Center for Creativity Studies. Her current research interests are in the areas of Creativity Studies, Creativity and Leadership, HBCU Leadership, STEM Education and STEM Leadership. 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 that time again! It’s time to debrief the first half of Season 7 of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast. In this episode, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood reflect on the first five episodes of Season 7, highlighting the key takeaways and lessons these discussions have taught them about how they can fuel creativity in school, at home, and beyond. Listen in to hear Cyndi and Matthew break down the following insights. Then, they challenge you to explore new opportunities for getting involved and facilitating creativity in your community.  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 double expresso of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett welcome back to the show Dr. James Kaufman, a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut and one of the leading researchers in the field of creativity.   In the second part of this double expresso, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett unpack his recent book, "The Creativity Advantage," with Dr. James Kaufman. The discussion focuses on the five benefits of creativity: self-insight, healing, connection, drive, and legacy. He explains that these areas were developed in response to the lack of emphasis on the practical benefits of creativity and the need to articulate why creativity is important. Kaufman also touches on the anti-creativity bias that exists in society and how it can hinder the recognition and acceptance of creativity.   The conversation also touches on the link between creativity and success in different domains, such as education and work performance. Dr. Kaufman acknowledges that while the connection is not always strongly evident, creative thinking can bring unique benefits to individuals and organizations. He also explores the biases and misconceptions surrounding creativity, including the desire for creativity within established frameworks and the resistance to change that can arise.Furthermore, Dr. Kaufman emphasizes the connection between creativity and mental health. He highlights the research on the therapeutic power of creative expression, such as art therapy and writing. Through these insights, the episode aims to challenge preconceived notions about creativity and inspire educators to integrate creativity into teaching and learning practices.About Dr. James Kaufman:Dr. 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 with Ron Beghetto, who was on an earlier podcast.  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. His most recent book, The Creativity Advantage, focuses on the benefits of bringing creativity into our lives. 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 double expresso of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett welcome back to the show Dr. James Kaufman, a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut and one of the leading researchers in the field of creativity. In the first part of this double expresso, Dr. Kaufman discusses the intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence (AI). He ponders whether AI will enhance or hinder creativity and questions if it will lead to a more equitable distribution of creative advantages. Dr. Kaufman expresses concerns that those with access to resources and technology may benefit the most, further widening the gap. However, he also sees the potential for AI to be a tool for co-creation and boosting people's creative potential. The conversation expands to include parallels between the advent of the World Wide Web and the potential challenges faced with increased access to information. They discuss the importance of curation in a world flooded with content, where individuals must navigate vast amounts of data to find what is truly valuable. Overall, this episode explores the complex relationship between creativity, AI, access to information, and the role of curation. Dr. Kaufman's insights give listeners a deeper understanding of these topics and the potential consequences and advantages they may have in the field of education.   About Dr. James Kaufman: Dr. 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 with Ron Beghetto, who was on an earlier podcast.  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. His most recent book, The Creativity Advantage, focuses on the benefits of bringing creativity into our lives.   Are you eager to bring more creativity into your school district? Check out our sponsor, Curiosity2Create.org and CreativeThinkingNetwork.com Do you want 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, Matthew Worwood and Cyndi Burnett interview Peter Wachtel, a teacher at Adolfo Camarillo High School in California. Peter is an experienced teacher of architecture and product innovation design and has a diverse background in the toy and entertainment industry. He was also the winner of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Teaching Excellence Prize and the California ACTE CTE Teacher of the Year. The conversation begins with a discussion about Peter's Guinness World Record for creating the longest charcuterie board in the world. He explains that it was a collaborative project with his students, involving careful planning and logistics. The board was 204 feet, 7.8 inches, and featured various cheeses, meats, and appetizers arranged in an aesthetically pleasing way. Peter then shares his journey into product design and inventing, recounting his early days of tinkering with bicycles and even turning a lawnmower into a go-kart. He emphasized the importance of curiosity and exploration in education, as well as the value of learning from both good and not-so-great teachers. The episode concludes with Peter discussing how he brings creativity into the classroom. He believes that anything around us can be an opportunity for exploration and discovery. Through projects like the charcuterie board, his students learn teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Peter highlights the importance of involving the community and different entities in these projects, giving students a real-world understanding of how businesses operate. Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into how creativity can be infused into education and the transformative impact it can have on students' learning experiences. Mentioned in this Episode: See the largest charcuterie board that broke the record! Azhelle Wade's Episode on Toy Design  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! About Peter Wachtel: Peter Wachtel teaches architecture and product innovation design at Adolfo Camarillo High School in Camarillo, Calif. He was a 2019 winner of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Teaching Excellence Prize & 2022 California ACTE CTE Teacher of the Year, 2023 Guinness World Record Holder (Longest Charcuterie Board in the World), taught design at the college level at MIT, Pratt Institute, Parsons School of Design and Otis College of Art and Design for more than 20 years. Wachtel, teaching after a 30-year career in the toy & entertainment industry, is the former president of the Southern California Toy Association, a published author of two books and has been a toy and product designer/inventor/ director at companies such as Marvel & Six Flags.