Fueling Creativity in Education

Infusing more FUN into Teaching and Learning with Dr. Mike Rucker

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.comWhat 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!
 

DEBRIEF 8.1: Revisiting Bravery, Co-Creativity, and Creative Residencies

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.comWhat 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 to Develop a Brave Habit in the Classroom with Todd Henry

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.comWhat 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!

Creative Residencies for Teachers with Dr. Maureen Carroll

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.comWhat 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!

Computational Creativity and Human-AI Co-creativity with Dr. Janet Rafner

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.comWhat 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!

Introducing Season 8 of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast

Welcome to Season 8 of the "Fueling Creativity in Education" podcast!
In today's episode, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett set the stage for an exciting lineup of episodes to kick off 2024, including tops around generative AI, writing, and adding more fun and courage into the classroom.  Listeners are also encouraged to check out the upcoming Learning and the Brain Conference in NYC and the Torrance Festival of Ideas, where they will present their podcast learnings.
Check out our sponsor Curiosity2Create.org and CreativeThinkingNetwork.comWhat 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 generative AI is shaping the future of education-Get Glimpses of the Future

🎙️ How much should technology influence the future of education? 
In this episode, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett discuss the impact of generative AI on education and how it can shape the future of learning. They dive into the concept of "get glimpses of the future" as a creative thinking skill. They explore AI Scenario Playquests where AI tools can enhance learning events, such as using AI mediators to resolve conflicts within student groups and leveraging instant translation capabilities to facilitate global collaboration between students from different cultures.
The conversation also delves into the potential challenges of integrating AI into education, raising thought-provoking questions about the balance between technology and traditional learning methods, as well as the implications for language learning in a world increasingly reliant on AI translation tools.Tune in to gain insights on how AI and creativity intersect in education and consider the evolving role of technology in shaping the learning experiences of future generations.
AI Scenario Playquests.
Eager to bring more creativity into your school district?Check out our sponsor Curiosity2Create.org and CreativeThinkingNetwork.comWhat 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 generative AI is shaping the future of education-Relationships

In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett explore the theme of relationships in the context of generative AI and its potential impact on creativity in education. Drawing from a previous episode with guest Patrícia Alves-Oliveira, the hosts delve into the complex nature of relationships between humans and robots. They emphasize the importance of building meaningful connections with technological tools and the ethical considerations involved. They discuss how students can form engaging relationships with robots, highlighting the potential for social and emotional learning.
The conversation also touches on the future of relationships with technology, prompting reflections on the portrayal of such connections in popular culture, as well as the ethical implications of introducing AI tools to support students. The hosts stress the need for educators to foster positive relationships with generative AI and to be aware of potential negative impacts. The episode concludes with a call to consider the various types of relationships that may exist with technological tools and to approach the integration of AI in education with mindfulness and ethical awareness.
Eager to bring more creativity into your school district?Check out our sponsor Curiosity2Create.org and CreativeThinkingNetwork.comWhat 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!