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On February 19, 2020, I attended a lecture and concert at the Juilliard School of Music, an experience that remains vivid in my memory. While the concert itself has faded, the lecture on the neuroscience of creativity, focusing on musicians and their brain activity through fMRI scans, left a lasting impact. This inspired me to write a book about creativity in STEM fields. As a creativity researcher, I saw this as an opportunity to bring innovation into STEM education.
This book is designed to help STEM instructors introduce creativity into their curriculum, particularly at the college and high school levels. It is aimed at math faculty and high school teachers seeking to cultivate creativity in their students while enhancing their own teaching methodologies. The book also offers valuable insights for students looking to expand their learning beyond traditional classroom settings.
Drawing from my experience as a community college researcher, I have integrated creative projects into my teaching, leading to transformative results for both students and myself. Emphasizing creativity has shifted the focus from simply learning mathematical concepts to building a cohesive and interconnected understanding of knowledge. The book underscores the importance of fostering creativity in education to equip students for an unpredictable future.
Teachers who value creativity are better equipped to inspire it in their students. Before implementing creative assignments, educators must first explore their own creative potential. This book encourages self-discovery and provides a roadmap for incorporating creativity into STEM education.
The book's intended audience initially included college and high school teachers, but it soon expanded to include students who could benefit from these insights. Open-minded students can use this book to explore creativity and bring it into their own learning journeys, carrying these skills into their future endeavors.
Addressing the shortage of creativity in traditional math classrooms, the book explores why creativity is often overlooked and how societal influences shape our thinking. It discusses how creativity can break through these constraints, offering healing and growth opportunities. Inspired by Rollo May's "The Courage to Create," the book examines the balance between structure and creativity in learning.
The book's structure includes chapters on motivation, the stages of creativity (as defined by Wallas and Csikszentmihalyi), and creativity's place in Bloom's taxonomy. It also covers developmental theories by Piaget and Vygotsky, emphasizing the importance of self-development for educators. Practical elements include research project ideas, classroom assignments, and assessment methods inspired by the Torrance Test. The book concludes with reflections on teaching creativity during the pandemic and future directions for research.
Teachers and students alike can benefit from the insights and practical strategies presented in this book. I invite readers to share their experiences and reflections via email, contributing to an ongoing dialogue about creativity in STEM education. This book aims to inspire educators and students to embrace creativity as a vital component of learning and personal growth.
teaching STEM; STEM and creativity; teaching math; teaching science