Education Commons^™

Creativity As A Mental State: An Eeg Study Of Musical Improvisation, Joel A. Lopata

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Researchers in cognitive neuroscience have used brain-imaging methods (e.g., EEG, fMRI) to investigate the neural correlates of creative cognition and have found increased activity in the alpha frequency band (Fink et al., 2009a, 2009b; Martindale, 1975), however few studies have used neuroscientific measures to investigate artistic creativity. Such studies are valuable because they share a characteristic of ecological validity. In this study I used EEG, the Alternate Uses Test (Guilford, 1967), and the Consensual Assessment Technique (Amabile, 1982) to substantiate a conceptualization of creativity as a mental state characterized by a distinct pattern of neural activity. The participants were musicians …

Problem-Solving Pedagogy: A Foundation For Restructuring, Updating, And Improving Undergraduate Theory And Musicianship Curricula, Michael T. Simonelli

Masters Theses

The goal of this thesis is to provide the ideological and practical foundation for an improved approach to undergraduate theory and musicianship pedagogy. I will discuss the structure of conventional theory programs and explore problems inherent to traditional curriculum design. Problem-solving pedagogy, an approach rooted in creative composition and improvisation, will be presented as a complement to traditional theory pedagogy. Balancing problem-solving pedagogy with a more traditional pedagogical approach will provide a practical foundation for improving undergraduate theory and musicianship curricula.

The Inclusion Of Cognitive Complexity: A Content Analysis Of New Jersey's Current And Past Intended Curriculum, Dario Sforza

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Policy makers and educators have stated that the internationally benchmarked standards will place greater emphasis on 21^st century skills including creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, presentation and demonstration, problem solving, research and inquiry, and career readiness. Many educators believe that if schools are “injected” with creativity, students will have a better chance at a prosperous and productive future. Are the current reform movements thwarting the opportunity for students to “find their own niche” and perhaps turning “them into disciples of ‘intellectual clones’ who will do ‘our thing’ rather their own?” (Sternberg, 2003, p. 335). In response to inquiry, this dissertation …

Applying Developmentally Appropriate Engineering Challenges In A First Grade Classroom, Kathleen R. Glick

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The intent of this study was to determine how implementing developmentally appropriate engineering challenges in a first grade classroom could positively impact the students’ levels of persistence, creativity and problem-solving. This study was conducted in a first grade classroom with 22 students located in a first-ring suburb of a major metropolitan area in Minnesota. Data collection methods included an engineering survey used to ascertain students’ knowledge of engineering and a student school attitude survey, both administered at the beginning and the end of the study, work completion tracked through a grade book, simple formative assessments, and teacher observations. The results …

Using Creativity As A Form Of Intervention For At-Risk-Youth: The Development Of Creativity2day, Tamika T. Lewis

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project is a detailed description of the development of Creativity2Day, the organization and its workshops, its sole purpose is to positively impact the lives of at-risk-youth and the communities they live in. This project provides a synthetized definition of creativity and a detailed outline on how the deliberate use of the Creative Change Leadership Model, Creative Problems Solving, and the Torrance Incubation Model of Teaching and Learning can be used together as a form of micro-level intervention methods, geared towards the positive development of at-risk-youth who attend Title I schools and reside in low-income communities.

Teaching The Universal Language Of Creativity: A Guide To Training., Carlie R. Arnone

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Teaching the Universal Language of Creativity: A Guide to Training.

The purpose of education in any regard is to provide knowledge and information, to teach something. Parents, educators, and professionals alike are experiencing some difficulty in education, in that they are not being properly taught how to nurture some particular needs of individuals with developmental disabilities, specifically on how to use creativity to do so. Educators, parents, and professionals in the field need to start advocating for a balance between strict regulations and creativity. In the recent years, there has been quite the push for creativity and innovation in businesses, …

Ways To Foster Creativity In The Classroom, Peter W. Herman

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Creativity in lesson planning has many positive impacts on student’s retention. Some of these include it challenges students to use upper level thought, increases motivation, and creativity has a trickledown effect on all aspects of the classroom, including the teacher. Current teachers were surveyed, with the majority valuing creativity. These teachers discovered roadblocks in bringing creativity into lesson plans because of time constraints due to curriculum shifts. These constraints and other hurdles can be overcome, and several benefits can be experienced by the teacher and the students. There is a need for training to solve problems in the classroom and …

Using The Torrance Incubation Model To Assist Parents With Developing Creativity In Their Children, Melanie L. Lesswing

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Abstract

Using the Torrance Incubation Model to Assist Parents with Developing Creativity in Their Children

The purpose of this project is to utilize the Torrance Incubation Model (TIM) to create a Creative Guide Book to the city of Buffalo, New York. The project also serves as a medium to deliver information about creativity and the creative thinking skills to the target audience of the Guide Book: parents. One goal of the project is to use the three-part TIM model to assist parents in teaching their children a vital 21^st Century skill: creativity. A second objective of the project is …

Waldorf Kindergarten And Reggio-Inspired Kindergarten: Documenting Value And Effectiveness Of Two Arts-Based Approaches, Daria Stowell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Waldorf kindergarten and Reggio-inspired kindergarten are two arts-based approaches to early childhood education that are viewed as strong educational alternatives to traditional education and serve as sources of inspiration for progressive educational reform. This study describes, interprets, and appraises the intentions and operations of two Waldorf kindergartens and two Reggio-inspired kindergartens in the United States in order to uncover the aims, practices, and values of both.

Five questions guide this study: (1) What are the intentions of Waldorf kindergarten and Reggio-inspired kindergarten? (2) What do Waldorf kindergarten and Reggio-inspired kindergarten look like in practice? (3) What do the children have …