The Creativity Edge in Education: Arts, Technology, & Passion

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The Creativity Edge in Education:

Arts, Technology & Passion

Learning & The Brain ConferenceSan Francisco, February 14, 2013

Milton Chen, Ph.D., Senior FellowGeorge Lucas Educational Foundation

San Francisco Bay Areamilton.chen@edutopia.org

Good News #1: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Good News #2:

Neuroscience Supports Creative, Collaborative, Passionate Learning!

Creative Learning = Authentic LearningSchool Life = Real Life

“the great waste comes from [the child’s] inability to utilize the experiences he gets outside the school…within the school…on the other hand, he is unable to apply in daily life what he is learning at school.”

John Dewey, The School and Society lecture, University of Chicago, 1899

Neuroscience & Cognitive Science: Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences

1. Verbal2. Logical/Mathematical 3. Visual4. Musical5. Bodily/Kinesthetic6. Intrapersonal7. Interpersonal 8. Naturalist

“Average students learn subject matter in a third or less of

present time, pleasurably rather than painfully.”

George Leonard, Education and Ecstasy, 1967

Learning Any Time, Any Place, Any Path, Any Pace

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Imagine an Education Nation…

A learning society where education of children is the highest priority, on par with a strong economy, high employment, and national security.

A nation is only as good as its educational system.

• Creativity & Innovation: Key to an Education Nation

• A “Must Do,” Not Just “Nice to Know”

• Internet Time: Google 15 Years Old, YouTube 8 Years, MOOC 4 Years

• Every 30 seconds, 24 Hours of New YouTube Video

Growth vs. Fixed Mindset: Students, Educators,

& Parents

The Technology Edge

• Weapons of Mass Instruction, 1:1 edutopia.org/maine-project-learning- schools-that-work

• iPod, iListen, iRead sites.google.com/a/eusd.org/eusd-iread/

• Online Learning edutopia.org/stw-online-learning- new-breakthroughs

• Assistive Tech/Universal Design

What’s your definition of a great school?

Make it short and measurable!

Do the students run in at the same rate they run out?

Assess Passion for Learning!