Is our education system stifling creativity by sticking to labels and standardized solutions—or can we truly unleash the creative potential of every student and teacher?

In this dynamic debrief episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Warwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett reflect on three thought-provoking interviews covering the future of gifted education, repurposing technology for creative teaching, and preparing students for the future of work. They revisit Dr. Catherine Little’s insights around needs-based approaches in gifted education, emphasizing the importance of individualized learning rather than labeling, and discuss how this philosophy could be applied from K-12 through university. The conversation also addresses the challenge of balancing student interests with exposure to diverse domains, questioning when and how schools should encourage specialization versus broad exploration.

The hosts then pivot to their discussion with Dr. Punya Mishra about technology’s evolving role in the classroom, highlighting the necessity for teacher creativity and agency when integrating new tools like AI, and noting the potential drawbacks of overly prescriptive tech solutions. Wrapping up with takeaways from Dr. Ronnie Reiter Palman, they delve into the nuances of creative problem solving in an AI-influenced world—exploring how AI often produces “middle of the road” ideas and how educators must coach students to develop and recognize genuinely creative solutions. Don’t miss this lively conversation packed with practical strategies, critical reflections, and insights into creativity, technology, and gifted education’s future.

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Are we unknowingly training a generation of students for a “middle of the road” future, where creativity and critical thinking suffer at the hands of automation and convenience?

In this enlightening episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Warwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett sit down with Dr. Roni Reiter-Palmon, a distinguished professor of Industrial Organizational Psychology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. They dive deep into the world of creativity in education, exploring the essential skills students need for the future workplace, such as problem identification, empathy, and critical thinking. Dr. Roni Reiter-Palmon shares practical examples and research-backed strategies, highlighting the importance of framing problems from multiple perspectives and understanding how creativity and critical thinking are intertwined. The conversation also touches on measuring creativity, the role of AI in assessment and idea generation, and the risks and rewards of integrating technology into creative educational processes.

Listeners will also gain insight into current trends shaping the field of creativity research, including team creativity, creativity with constraints, and innovative approaches to fostering creative skills in students. As the current President of the APA Division 10, Dr. Roni Reiter-Palmon offers a unique perspective on emerging topics for 2025 and emphasizes the necessity of expertise and deep domain knowledge for meaningful creative work. Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or creativity enthusiast, this episode provides actionable advice and thought-provoking questions to help fuel your teaching journey in the age of AI and collaborative innovation. Be sure to check out the show notes for conference links and additional resources!

Dr. Roni Reiter-Palmon is the John Holland Distinguished Professor of Industrial Organizational Psychology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. With nearly 40 years in the field, her research zeroes in on creativity and innovation in workplaces, focusing especially on cognitive and social processes, creativity measurement, skill development, and the intersection of creativity with AI and teamwork. With over 200 publications in leading journals and books, Dr. Reiter-Palmon is a central figure in creativity research, currently editing the APA Handbook on the Psychology of Creativity and serving as the president of APA Division 10. In 2024, she was honored with the Arnheim Lifetime Achievement Award for her influential contributions to the study of creativity.

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Can teachers truly be creative if they’re told exactly what tools to use—and how to use them?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood welcome Dr. Punya Mishra, Associate Dean of Scholarship and Innovation at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. Dr. Mishra delves deep into the concept of “teachers as designers,” drawing on the foundational design theories of Herb Simon and his own background in engineering and design. He explains how teachers, much like designers, operate in complex, ambiguous environments where creativity, improvisation, and reflection in action are essential. Dr. Mishra introduces listeners to the TPACK framework, highlighting the intersections between content, pedagogy, technology, and context, and discusses how educators can transform everyday tools—from textbooks to cell phones—into powerful vehicles for creative learning.

The conversation expands into the pressing challenges and opportunities presented by technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in today’s classrooms. Dr. Mishra shares both his excitement and concerns about AI, emphasizing the importance of teacher agency, the risks of top-down, one-size-fits-all edtech solutions, and the need to recognize the implicit learning theories embedded in every technology. He offers examples of AI as a creative partner in both the classroom and his personal creative pursuits, while also warning about issues like bias and over-reliance on technology-generated content. The episode closes with Dr. Mishra’s personal reflections on transformative learning experiences, the vital role of teacher creativity, and a call to retain a critical, questioning stance as technology continues to reshape education.

Dr. Punya Mishra is Associate Dean of Scholarship and Innovation at Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. He wears many hats—learning engineer, professor, researcher, author, artist, and designer—and his research explores how creativity, design, and technology intersect to transform education. Known for his engaging talks and prolific scholarship, Punya inspires educators to embrace innovation while staying firmly rooted in the art and science of teaching. He believes in empowering teachers as creative professionals and gives voice to the importance of context, flexibility, and genuine care in shaping meaningful learning experiences.

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In this thought-provoking episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, Matthew Worwood and Cyndi Burnett sit down with Dr. Catherine Little, Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut and President of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC).

Catherine reflects on how the field of gifted education has evolved—where meaningful progress has been made and where key challenges still persist, especially in ensuring all students have opportunities to engage in deeper, more creative thinking. Drawing from her extensive research, she shares practical strategies for integrating gifted education into the everyday curriculum, highlighting the power of facilitating student conversations around open-ended questions to promote curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity.

This episode offers rich insights for teachers, gifted coordinators, and education leaders seeking new approaches to creative teaching, teaching creativity, and supporting creativity in education through inclusive and inquiry-driven practices.

Plus, a special shout-out to the upcoming National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—a must-attend event for anyone passionate about gifted and creative education!

Dr. Catherine Little is a professor at the University of Connecticut specializing in giftedness, creativity, and talent development. Her research focuses on professional learning, differentiated instruction, and questioning practices for advanced learners. She has led several national initiatives, including Project Spark, Project LIFT, and Project Focus, aimed at recognizing and responding to academic potential, especially in elementary students from underserved populations. Dr. Little currently serves as the president of the Board of Directors for the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), supporting educators in developing resources and strategies for nurturing the talents of all students.

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Are serendipitous surprises the secret ingredient to sparking creativity in your classroom?

In this lively debrief episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cindy Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood reflect on the past three episodes by digging into the stories, experiments, and aha moments that emerged around micro schools, creativity assessments, and the value of surprise in the classroom. Matt kicks things off with a humorous and messy retelling of his Marshmallow Challenge without masking tape, sparking a discussion about embracing serendipity and disruption to foster authentic creativity among students. Cyndi and Matt build on this idea by recalling insights from guests like Jason Blair, who advocated for serendipitous moments and playful engagement, and Dr. Wendy Ross, who highlighted the magic of unexpected classroom surprises.

The conversation then pivots to the world of micro schools, inspired by David Richards’ episode, where Matt proposes an innovative idea for teacher training programs to establish their own experimental micro schools. Cyndi weighs in on how such flexible environments can inspire both pre-service teachers and lifelong learners. The episode wraps up with a hands-on demo of Dr. Selcuk Acar’s new open-source creativity assessment tool, MOTES, as Matt takes the test on-air and they discuss practical ways educators can use such tools to track and nurture originality in students. The hosts encourage embracing the unexpected, prototyping new approaches to education, and continually creating opportunities for creative growth both in schools and beyond.

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What happens when you mix creativity with the freedom and flexibility of micro schools?

In this enlightening episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett dive into the world of micro schools with special guest David Richards, founder and CEO of ChangeMakeredU. David breaks down what micro schools are—intimate learning environments with 5 to 150 students—and explains how their structure harkens back to the one-room schoolhouse model. He discusses the rapid growth of micro schools in response to rising parental demand for flexible, creativity-driven education, highlighting that 60% of micro schools use self-directed learning models. Throughout the episode, David shares real-world examples of micro schools focused on the arts, STEAM, neuroscience, and social-emotional learning, illustrating how these small, community-centered schools empower teachers to build the creative learning experiences they've always dreamed of.

Listeners will gain insights into launching a micro school, including the business and operational steps, potential funding models, and the importance of tailoring offerings to the needs and values of local communities. David details how the micro school model creates space for true creativity, collaborative multi-age learning, and active parent involvement—environments that traditional schools often struggle to provide. The hosts express their excitement about the potential of micro schools to usher in a revolution in education, and David shares his most creative educational experience—designing a new school model with students using design thinking principles. If you're an educator, parent, or community leader interested in fostering creativity and reimagining learning, this episode offers a roadmap to getting started and highlights the resources available through ChangeMakeredU.

David Richards is the founder and CEO of ChangeMakeredU, an innovative national network of affiliate micro schools and an incubator supporting aspiring school founders. With over 25 years of leadership in education reform—as a teacher, principal, executive, and board member—David has opened multiple charter and micro schools across the United States. Known for his expertise in launching educational ventures, David is passionate about transforming learning environments to center creativity, student empowerment, and community-driven values. Through ChangeMakeredU, he aims to catalyze a new paradigm for education, helping teachers and families break free from the constraints of traditional schooling and design learning spaces that truly reflect their visions and needs.

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Can we really measure creativity in the classroom—or are we missing the bigger picture?

In this engaging episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett sit down with Dr. Selçuk Acar, Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of North Texas and a leading voice in creativity assessment. Together, they dive deep into the complexities of measuring creativity in educational settings, examining the ongoing debate between domain-general and domain-specific creativity, and discussing the challenges teachers face in recognizing and nurturing creative potential among students. Dr. Acar offers practical advice for educators, emphasizing the importance of open-ended, ill-defined questions to encourage creative thought, and highlights emerging tools and strategies for integrating creativity assessment directly into classroom content.

A central focus of the discussion is Dr. Acar’s work on MOTES, a groundbreaking new measure of original thinking that leverages AI technology to objectively and efficiently score creative responses. The conversation explores how AI is revolutionizing creativity assessment, making it more accessible and scalable in educational environments, and the broader implications this holds for teaching and learning. Dr. Acar reflects on his own formative creative experiences as both a student and educator, underscoring the lifelong value of cultivating curiosity and original thinking. Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or researcher, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring perspectives on the future of creativity in schools.

Dr. Selcuk Acar is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of North Texas. With over 80 peer-reviewed publications, his research focuses on how creativity can be measured, developed, and supported in educational contexts. Dr. Acar is especially interested in divergent thinking and the education of gifted and talented students. He led a significant grant-funded project that resulted in the creation of MOtS, a novel test for measuring originality in student thinking. Throughout his career, Dr. Acar has collaborated closely with educators and fellow scholars, earning numerous awards for his contributions to the field. His passion lies in helping teachers recognize and foster creativity in every learner.

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In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood sit down with innovative art educator Jason Blair to explore the often overlooked discomfort adults feel around "real creativity"—something Jason dubs "inconvenient creativity." Jason shares powerful personal stories, from creative chaos in his daughter's room to spontaneous, student-driven art projects in his classroom, illustrating how true creativity frequently emerges in unexpected moments that disrupt the status quo. He explains why adults and educators can be unsettled by these uncontrollable, messy instances and emphasizes the importance of leaning into these opportunities instead of suppressing them.

The conversation delves into strategies for infusing creativity across all classrooms, not just the arts, with Jason offering practical ideas for sparking student imagination and engagement in any subject area. The hosts and Jason also explore the need for an educational revolution, not just evolution, highlighting the urgency to shift focus from content and efficiency to nurturing the dispositions and mindsets that help students thrive in a rapidly changing world. The episode wraps with a memorable account of a cross-age, student-led project that encapsulates authentic learning, collaboration, and the joy of creating for others, leaving listeners inspired to invite more serendipity and creativity into their own teaching practice.

Jason Blair is an art educator dedicated to the belief that creativity is more than a skill—it’s a way of seeing, thinking, and being. With over two decades of classroom experience, Jason is passionate about empowering both students and educators to embrace imagination as a lever for transformation. He artfully blends the worlds of art, empathy, and innovation, creating environments where curiosity is cultivated and every voice matters. Jason is known for pushing beyond the traditional limits of education and modeling the courage to lean into the messy, beautiful moments of authentic, meaningful learning.

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Is it time to completely tear down the education system and start over if we truly want creativity to thrive in our schools?

In the first debrief episode of Season 11, hosts Cyndi Burnett and Matthew Worwood take a reflective dive into insights from their most recent three guests on the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast. The discussion begins with Dr. Henry Smith from Johns Hopkins University, who explored the intersection of creativity and education policy, notably discussing the controversial topic of school vouchers and advocating for a revolutionary approach to education reform—“tearing down the house” to build a truly creative system from the ground up. Cyndi and Matt examine both the promise and concerns of vouchers, especially their impact on equity, and tease an upcoming episode on micro-schools that further expands the conversation.

The hosts then turn to classroom creativity with Emily Jamison, an elementary teacher known for fostering a family-like atmosphere and utilizing clever, agency-giving feedback strategies to empower students. They reflect on the importance of playful, positive feedback—even down to students choosing the color of their feedback pen—and discuss how creating a safe, supportive environment nurtures creative expression at any grade level. Wrapping up, Cyndi and Matt share their takeaways from an interview with renowned creativity researcher Dr. Keith Sawyer, unpacking ideas from his latest book, "Learning to See." They discuss the importance of perspective in creativity, the value of “studio talk” for reflection and creative growth, and creative exercises—like photographic challenges—that can deepen both student engagement and teacher understanding. The episode closes with personal stories, anticipatory teasers for future guests, and a fun nod to trying new things—even learning to “shuffle” on YouTube!

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What if creativity doesn’t start with inventing new things, but with learning to see and interpret the world differently?

In this engaging episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood sit down with Dr. Keith Sawyer, a leading creativity researcher, jazz pianist, and professor at UNC Chapel Hill. The conversation centers on Sawyer’s new book, Learning to See, which explores the idea that true creativity begins with learning to notice, perceive, and interpret the world—and oneself—in new ways. Together, they unpack how artistic and design educators approach fostering creativity, often avoiding the very word itself, instead focusing on guiding students through iterative processes that develop their ability to “see” and think critically. Keith shares insights from more than a decade of interviews with art and design professors, highlighting the deliberate, teachable practices and mindsets that underpin creative achievement.

The discussion broadens to consider how these principles translate across disciplines, from the arts to the sciences and humanities. The hosts and Keith emphasize the importance of process over outcome—encouraging experimentation, feedback, and reflection as keys to creative growth. The episode also delves into the concept of “studio talk,” where educators model their own thinking and decision-making out loud, providing students with a window into expert creative processes. Listeners will come away inspired to infuse their teaching with opportunities for personal transformation, risk-taking, and iterative exploration, regardless of subject area. Plus, Keith offers a preview of his upcoming book focused on personal creative transformation, making this episode a must-listen for educators and creativity enthusiasts alike.

Dr. Keith Sawyer is the Morgan Distinguished Professor of Educational Innovations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A globally respected scholar, he has authored more than a dozen books on creativity, learning, and innovation, with work featured in Time, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. His research bridges the arts, education, and the science of creativity, drawing on his unique experience as a jazz pianist and improviser. Dr. Sawyer’s passion is helping educators, organizations, and individuals unlock creative potential by rethinking not just what we make, but how we see. His latest book, Learning to See, explores teaching and learning inside top art and design schools—and the lessons we can apply across all disciplines. He also hosts The Science of Creativity podcast.

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