Fueling Creativity in Education
The Fueling Creativity in Education podcast provides listeners with unique insights into the field of creativity research, including best practices for applying this knowledge to a traditional school environment. Thanks to deep dive interviews with renowned creativity scholars, respected practitioners, and passionate educators, every teacher and administrator will walk away with new strategies that inspire and support student and teacher creativity in and out of the classroom.
Episodes

6 days ago
6 days ago
How do we facilitate learning that invites inquiry and makes learning purposeful? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood welcome Dr. Penny Hay, an artist, educator, and researcher in the field of culture and creativity. Penny’s doctoral research focused on children’s learning identities as artists.
Tune in to learn Penny’s approach to engaging children in learning through the arts and across the curriculum, what she’s discovered in her research about children’s learning identities as artists, and how you can start teaching art creatively in your classroom.
“What art does is manifest and make visible creativity daily. So, it’s a lovely approach to inviting possibility and a really creative approach to teaching art and design in the primary curriculum.” – Dr. Penny Hay
Penny details the important role of the adult in children’s learning, how to reimagine education with an inquiry-based approach, and the power of learning as a shared experience where you are your children’s learning companion.
“Imagine a world where our children are engaged in serious creative play, where their environments are full of space and light, where adults are companions in the children’s inquiries about the world. Creative adults who show a deep respect for children’s ideas, theories, and fascinations.” – Dr. Penny Hay
Penny’s Tips for Teachers and Parents:
Invite possibility and openness to create an ethos that makes creativity visible.
Go with the flow so that you genuinely follow children’s fascinations.
Recommended Resources:
House of Imagination
Forest of Imagination
Teaching Art Creatively by Dr. Penny Hay
Children are Artists: Supporting Children’s Learning Identity as Artists by Dr. Penny Hay
Schools Without Walls UK
Listen to S1 Episode 6 with Ron Beghetto
Listen to S2 Episode 7 with Ron Beghetto
Follow Bath Spa University on Instagram
Eager to bring more creativity into your home or classroom?
Access a variety of creativity resources and tools & listen to more episodes of The Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast by visiting our website, www.CreativityandEducation.com.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
Have a question? Email Dr. Burnett and Dr. Worwood at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com!
You can also find The Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and PodBean! Make sure to rate, review, and share the podcast if you enjoy it!
About Dr. Penny Hay:
Dr. Penny Hay is an artist, educator and researcher, Reader in Creative Teaching and Learning, Senior Lecturer in Arts Education, School of Education; Research Fellow, Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries; Bath Spa University and Director of Research, House of Imagination. Signature projects include School Without Walls and Forest of Imagination. Penny’s doctoral research focused on children’s learning identity as artists.
Penny is the strand leader for Creative Pedagogy in the Policy, Pedagogy and Practice Research Centre, Associate Director of TRACE at Bath Spa University and co-chair of the eARTh research group focusing on education, arts and the environment. She is co-investigator on an Erasmus+ project ‘Interstice’ in Europe researching the space between art, children and educators.
Penny is also a visiting Lecturer at Plymouth College of Art, National Teaching Fellow and Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, with awards from Action for Children’s Arts and Creative Bath.
Visit Penny’s website
Follow her on Twitter

Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
SEASON SIX: New Things Brewing!
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
We are back with Season Six of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast!
Join Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood as they share what is in store for Season Six!
Big Giveaway! We are giving away five of our Fueling Creativity in Education mugs along with a bag of our favorite coffee! All you need to do is be the first to write us a review on your favorite podcast platform, screen shot a picture, and email it to us at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com
Special question and answer episodes with Cyndi and Matt! Do you have a question about how to bring creativity into education, that has not been addressed? We will be answering your questions each season on our special Q&A episodes! Just email us at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com
Eager to bring more creativity into your home or classroom?
Access a variety of creativity resources and tools & listen to more episodes of The Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast by visiting our website, www.CreativityandEducation.com.
Want to learn more about the concept of Teacher Creativity?
Read and watch how the concept of Teacher Creativity and Design Thinking can increase teacher agency using new technology, help build a culture of innovation, and support diversity and inclusion, and social-emotional learning at your school. Visit WorwoodClassroom.com.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
Have a question? Email Dr. Burnett and Dr. Worwood at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com!
You can also find The Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and PodBean! Make sure to rate, review, and share the podcast if you enjoy it!

Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
THROW BACK: Teachers as Designers with KC Lathrop
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
How do you go from teaching to designing? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood revisit their discussion with creator, educator, and former IBM designer, KC Lathrop.
As a former teacher turned designer, KC works to empower people to go against societal norms, change careers, start over, start again, learn anything they want, and follow all creative desires.
Tune in to learn about her transition from educator to full-time designer at IBM, the similarities between teaching and design professions, and how her administrative role allows her to be creative in new ways. She also describes the fascinating 100 of Making practice and how it nurtures her creativity, design, innovation, and even mental health.
“I kind of think about creativity in support your mental health. I think it’s almost the same idea as going to the gym every day for your physical health. To me, maintaining a creative practice is one of the ways that I maintain my mental health.” - KC Lathrop
KC’s Tips for Teachers and Parents:
Take every lesson you teach as a new opportunity to learn something for yourself. Not every class is going to be the best class you’ve ever taught.
A part of learning is being vulnerable. If you want your students to be vulnerable, you also need to be vulnerable with them.
Meet people where they are. No matter how much experience you have, there’s always space for learning and growing.
About KC Lathrop:
KC Lathrop is a designer, creator, and educator. She currently works in strategy and operations for IBM’s IT department. KC started at IBM as a User Experience Designer 5 years ago while getting her master’s degree from New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP). During her time at NYU, KC enrolled in the class 100 days of making, which she ended up teaching the following year. As a former teacher turned designer, she works to empower people to go against societal norms, change careers, start over, start again, learn anything you want and follow all creative desires. KC currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her adorable dog, Waffles.
Visit KC’s website
Connect with her on LinkedIn
Follow her on Instagram
Want to learn more about the concept of Teachers as Designers?
Read and watch how the concept of Teacher Creativity and Design Thinking can increase teacher agency using new technology, help build a culture of innovation, and support diversity and inclusion and social-emotional learning at your school. Visit WorwoodClassroom.com.
Eager to bring more creativity into your home or classroom?
Access a variety of creativity resources and tools & listen to more episodes of The Fueling Creativity Podcast by visiting our website, CreativityandEducation.com.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
Follow Cyndi and Matt on Linkedin!
You can also find The Fueling Creativity Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and PodBean! Make sure to rate, review, and share the podcast if you enjoy it!

Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
THROW BACK: AI and the Future of Creative Production with Bryan Alexander
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
How can AI and Machine Learning bring Creativity in the Future? In this throwback episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood revisit their discussion with Dr. Bryan Alexandar, a futurist and award-winning educator. This discussion was the first episode in the podcast, where Cyndi and Matthew began to discuss the impact of AI and how we might collaborate with machines in the future.
Other Episodes on AI and CoBots
How can AI and Machine Learning bring Creativity in the Future? In this throwback episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood revisit their discussion with Dr. Bryan Alexandar, a futurist and award-winning educator. This discussion was the first episode in the podcast, where Cyndi and Matthew began to discuss the impact of AI and how we might collaborate with machines in the future.
Other Episodes on AI and CoBots
Building Robots to Support Childhood Creativity with Patrícia Alves-Oliveira
Discussing Beauty Over Functionality and Malevolent Creativity with David Cropley
BRIDGING THE GAP: Revisiting the Impact of AI on Creativity
Teaching students to think for tomorrow with Jonathan Nalder
Eager to bring more creativity into your home or classroom?
Access a variety of creativity resources and tools & listen to more episodes of The Fueling Creativity Podcast by visiting our website, CreativityandEducation.com.
Follow Cyndi and Matt on Linkedin.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
Follow Cyndi and Matt on Linkedin.
You can also find The Fueling Creativity Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and PodBean! Make sure to rate, review, and share the podcast if you enjoy it!

Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
BRIDGING THE GAP: Reflecting on the Creativity topics of 2022
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
Fueling Creativity in Education – 2022 Reflections
Happy New Year! With 52 episodes produced and 29 creativity experts interviewed in this past year, the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast has generated countless insights that are transforming the way we approach creativity in education.
In this special first episode of 2023, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood reflect on five of their favorite insights from 2022 and share their top tips for bringing creativity into your classroom or home in 2023.
Tune in to hear Matt and Cyndi’s top 5 and stay tuned for Season 6!
What is YOUR favorite insight or tip from the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast in 2022?
Let us know! Email us at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com!
Eager to bring more creativity into your home or classroom?
Access a variety of creativity resources and tools & listen to more episodes of The Fueling Creativity Podcast by visiting our website: www.CreativityandEducation.com
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
To keep us growing, give us a rating/review and share the podcast with a friend or colleague if you enjoy it! You can find The Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and PodBean.
Here’s a sneak peek into their top insights of 2022:
Artificial intelligence plays a key role in the future of creativity and we’re coming to a place where anyone and everyone can use AI. AI could likely be as disruptive as the worldwide web and the creation of the personal computer!
Robots and AI can help facilitate better learning experiences for students while supporting educators who need help in unique and various ways.
Whenever we go about something new, we need to first ask questions about the system.
Think about yourself as an ancestor. How can we be better ancestors for our kids and the world at large?
The conversations that develop from the question “What’s your favorite failure?” can be game-changing for children’s learning experiences.
Episodes & Other Resources Mentioned:
Listen to the episode with David Cropley
Listen to Part 1 with Patrícia Alves-OliveiraListen to Part 2 with Patrícia Alves-OliveiraListen to the episode with Michael Hanchett Hanson
Listen to the episode with Jonathan Plucker
Listen to the episode with Dr. Victoria E. Waller
Listen to the episode with Frances Valintine
Listen to the episode with Bea Leiderman
Listen to the episode with Genein Letford
Jasper AI (Jarvis AI)
Grammarly
ChatGPT

Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
BRIDGING THE GAP: Revisiting the Impact of AI on Creativity
Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
Let’s debrief the second half of Season 5 of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast! In this episode, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood reflect on the last six episodes of Season 5, highlighting the key takeaways and major lessons these discussions have taught us about creativity in education.
Listen in to hear Cyndi and Matt break down the following insights and share what’s in store for Fueling Creativity in Education in 2023!
Major Takeaways from Season 5 Episodes 7-12:
Parents and educators should think more about adding a shadow curriculum to their regular curriculum. To learn more about shadow education systems, listen to the episode with Dr. Alfredo Bautista: https://bit.ly/3Z0GRkq
Allow and enable children to come up with Dream Machines. To learn more about how to integrate Dream Machines into your curriculum, listen to the episode with Piet Grymonprez: https://bit.ly/3CaLjDj
Success is a key aspect of creativity and becoming more creative. When you show children that they can be successful in one area, that empowers them to be successful in other areas. To learn more, listen to the episode with Michael Mino: https://bit.ly/3vn7WAm
Creativity is the engine for change. We don’t talk enough about preparing kids for change. To learn more, listen to the episode with Lola Schnapp: https://bit.ly/3jEqJ7X
We learn from robots and robots learn from us. Utilizing machine learning and collaborating with AI and robots are skills of the future creative. So, how can robots support teachers? To learn more about building robots to support childhood creativity, listen to Part 2 with Patrícia Alves-Oliveira: https://bit.ly/3Ib1T9R
What’s YOUR favorite episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast? Let us know! Email us at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com!
Episodes Debriefed:
Listen to the episode with Lola Schnapp
Listen to Part 1 with Patrícia Alves-Oliveira
Listen to Part 2 with Patrícia Alves-Oliveira
Listen to the episode with Piet Grymonprez
Listen to the episode with Dr. Alfredo Bautista
Listen to the episode with Michael Mino
Eager to bring more creativity into your home or classroom?
Access a variety of creativity resources and tools & listen to more episodes of The Fueling Creativity Podcast by visiting our website: www.CreativityandEducation.com
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
You can also find The Fueling Creativity Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and PodBean! Make sure to rate, review, and share the podcast if you enjoy it!

Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Maker Education Across Different Socio-Economic Environments with Michael Mino
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Why are MakerSpaces trending? Why is Maker Education so important? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood welcome Michael Mino, an Education Development Specialist with over 25 years of experience in K-16 public and private education. Michael is also the founder of numerous innovative student programs and currently serves as the Director of Career and Maker Education at Rancho Del Rey in Monterrey Mexico where he established a MakerSpace to serve underprivileged students.
Listen in to learn the power of the MakerSpace movement and how MakerSpaces serve students with a lower socioeconomic status in the Digital Age. Michael describes the key differences between traditional education and Maker Education, along with the pros and cons of focusing more on STEM and incorporating digital technology into education.
“A MakerSpace can be a catalyst for deeper academic learning.” – Michael Mino
Then, Michael highlights his first-hand experience of the benefits of combining MakerSpaces with traditional schooling and how success in a MakerSpace can lead to success in the classroom. Plus… Michael highlights the skills students learn in MakerSpaces and how they’re preparing kids for the future.
“Success is part of the key to becoming more creative and becoming more technically competent.” – Michael Mino
Michael’s Tips for Teachers and Parents:
You can create a MakerSpace at any budget, so work with what you have. You can always build up your budget later.
Your environment is the third teacher. If you don’t have a dedicated space, again, work with what you have. Try creating a Maker Center within your classroom, your desk, library, workshop, etc.
Start with where you are right now. What type of project are you doing now that could incorporate more making opportunities?
Recommended Resources:
Follow Michael’s MakerSpace, Hacedores Del Rey on Instagram
Duolingo
Google’s “The Future of Education” Report
Eager to bring more creativity into your home or classroom?
Access a variety of creativity resources and tools & listen to more episodes of The Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast by visiting our website, www.CreativityandEducation.com.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
Have a question? Email Dr. Burnett and Dr. Worwood at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com!
You can also find The Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and PodBean! Make sure to rate, review, and share the podcast if you enjoy it!
About Michael Mino:
Michael Mino is an education development specialist with over 25 years’ experience in K-16 public and private education and an outstanding track record of innovation in STEM and Maker Education. He is the founder of numerous innovative student programs including the IT Leadership Academy, the Connecticut Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, the Connecticut Student Innovation Expo and the Center for 21st Century Skills at Ed Advance. He is currently serving as the Director of Career and Maker Education at Rancho Del Rey in Monterrey Mexico where he established a Maker Space to serve severally underprivileged boys ages 5 to 16. Mino is an “Apple Distinguished Educator” and is also serving as a 21st century STEM and Maker Education Consultant for public, private and nonprofit schools and organizations in the U.S., Mexico and Africa.
Connect with him on LinkedIn

Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Should kindergarten be more focused on play or academics? How does education in Hong Kong differ from American/Western education? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood welcome Dr. Alfredo Bautista, an Associate Professor & Associate Head of the Department of Early Childhood Education at The Education University of Hong Kong. Alfredo is also Co-Director for the Centre for Educational and Developmental Sciences.
Listen in to learn about the current state of education in Hong Kong and how creativity is perceived in the Chinese educational system. Then, Alfredo shares his research on early childhood creativity in Hong Kong kindergarteners, detailing the similarities and differences between Eastern and Western education.
“We are making progress, schools are slowly learning, teachers are slowly improving and getting more and more pedagogical ideas, but there is still a lot of work to do.” – Dr. Alfredo Bautista
Alfredo highlights the roles of structure and freedom in early childhood curriculums and shares his fascinating opinion on whether kindergarten should be play-based or academics-based.
Plus, the trio shines light on the importance of recognizing your values as a parent and being able to decide what type of education your child needs, as they do in Hong Kong - yet in the US, there are barriers to choosing your child’s educational environment. Tune in to learn more!
Alfredo’s Tips for Teachers and Parents (Preschool/Kindergarten):
Creativity emerges when there is some sort of framework. It’s important to learn how to design activities that provide a framework and give children the freedom to complete that framework in different ways.
Design activities that require exploration and experimentation.
Have discussions with colleagues and other parents about what they understand creativity to be.
Eager to bring more creativity into your home or classroom?
Access a variety of creativity resources and tools & listen to more episodes of The Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast by visiting our website, www.CreativityandEducation.com.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!
Have a question? Email Dr. Burnett and Dr. Worwood at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com!
You can also find The Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and PodBean! Make sure to rate, review, and share the podcast if you enjoy it!
About Dr. Alfredo Bautista:
Dr. Alfredo Bautista is Associate Professor & Associate Head of the Department of Early Childhood Education at The Education University of Hong Kong. He is also Co-Director for the Centre for Educational and Developmental Sciences. Alfredo graduated in Psychology and Music in Madrid (Spain). He worked as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Victoria (Canada) and Tufts University (USA). Subsequently, he joined Singapore's National Institute of Education, where he served as Research Scientist and Assistant Dean of Professional Learning. Currently, Alfredo leads several early childhood education projects focusing on Curriculum, Pedagogy, Teacher Education and Professional Development, teaches courses for pre- and in-service kindergarten teachers (e.g., Music/Arts Education, Curriculum Design, Play), and supervises seven doctoral students. Alfredo is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal for the Study of Education and Development and serves as Associate Editor and Editorial Board Member for other peer-reviewed international journals.
Connect with him on LinkedIn
Follow him on Twitter