From Memorization to Imagination: Unleashing Creativity in Chemistry Education with Dr. Colleen Kelley

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

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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. 

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