Teacher helping student succeed: The practical research-based creative field guide

Dear colleagues and friends,

Yesterday, I uploaded the paper I had written based on the creativity education teacher training research I had done as part of Educational Leadership, Policy and Administration MA, to Notebook LM, and asked some vital questions:

How to help struggling students? 

How to help students with anxiety in the classroom? 

How to help students with reading comprehension? 

How to help students retain information? 

How can the teacher support students’ learning? 

How to help students learn better? 

How to help students reach their goals?

Then I let the AI podcast team do their magic, while I made chicken with lychee.

So, years of research became a 20 minutes captivating podcast.

Click here to listen!

Then I visited Napkin AI and asked for an infographic, helping us understand how to help today's brighter than ever students.

Check this out:

In my research paper those five aspects depicted creative students. Yet they are also pathways to academic excellence. And as described in the podcast, help students in various ways, coping with difficulties, to retain information, anxiety in the classroom, reaching aims, and more...

The basic idea is that teaching to the test, helps retaining information. But how much does the student remember the day after the test? All the while, meaningful learning helps students in various ways, and leads to learning that is retained for life.

So, how exactly does a teacher help students, as in daily teaching-learning processes:

So, I rest my case. 20 years of creativity research summed up like this, simplified to help you help students succeed!

Michelle Korenfeld

Books, PD, learning units and supporting community!

Find below the podcast transcript.

See you in the online summer workshop, Aug 26th 19:00!

Contact to register and learn more: Korenfeld.Creativity@gmail.com Phone & WhatsApp: 972 50 7968035.

Michelle Korenfeld's website Raising Creative Thinkers logo. Click on the image to visit!

Podcast transcript -

Solving the Creativity Crisis How Teacher Training Ignites Student Potential and Well-being

Welcome to the Deep Dive, where we unpack the ideas that matter. Today, we're diving headfirst into one of the most persistent and, frankly, urgent challenges facing educators, and really, by extension, all of us. How do we truly help students thrive? And I don't just mean getting good grades, you know.

It's more than that.

Exactly. We're talking about developing those essential skills they'll need for, well, a rapidly changing, often unpredictable future. Teachers are constantly adapting, looking for novel instruction methods that genuinely make a difference for every student.

Yeah, the pressure is definitely on.

So our mission for this deep dive is to explore exactly how a focused approach to creativity education teacher training, and we're drawing from some really compelling research by Michelle Kornfeld here, offers concrete, practical answers.

Okay.

Answers to those universal questions that, you know, keep teachers up at night. Questions like, how do you genuinely reach that student who's struggling?

A big one.

Seat and participation actually flourish. How do you boost comprehension and make sure what's learned actually sticks, like for real retention?

Yeah, that retention piece is key.

And ultimately, how do you truly guide students toward their full potential, towards their unique goals?

That's precisely it. And for this deep dive, we've basically distilled the most important insights from a comprehensive research paper on creativity education teacher training.

Okay.

Your essential shortcut, really, to being incredibly well-informed on a topic that honestly isn't just about our projects anymore. It's about equipping every single student for success. And importantly, well-being in the world ahead.

OK, so let's maybe set the scene then. Looking at the current landscape of education, the research we looked at reveals something quite striking right off the bat. Despite this urgent need for innovative instruction, the actual language of creativity isn't as widespread in education as you might think.

That is surprising.

And here's where it gets really interesting, where the implications kind of hit home. The research points to a very real, very concerning creativity crisis.

Yes, the insights there are quite stark. Studies over the last couple of decades have consistently highlighted this creativity crisis.

Okay.

What's particularly noteworthy is research from experts like Kyunghee Kim, which indicates that since the 1990s, and this coincides with that big global shift towards more test-focused learning.

Right, standardized testing.

Exactly. While students' IQ scores actually saw an increase, their creative thinking diminished.

Wow. So IQ up, creativity down?

Pretty much. And this decline wasn't just a slight dip. It was particularly pronounced in those really crucial early years, you know, kindergarten to grade three.

Oh, that is concerning.

It is. And this shift, unfortunately, had a direct impact. It impeded fundamental aspects of learning, like intrinsic motivation, the ability to engage in truly meaningful learning, and, well, the development of originality.

So it affects how they learn, why they learn.

Precisely. And if we connect this to the bigger picture, this decline in creative thinking isn't just about grades or test scores. It deeply impacts well-being.

How so?

Well, as far back as the 1970s, educators like E. Paul Torrance were noting that stifling creativity leads to stress and crisis, while nurturing creativity brings well-being.

A direct link, then. Stress versus well-being.

A direct link. Allowing creativity to flourish directly impacts a child's mental and emotional health. And we see more evidence recently, like the PISA 2022 creative thinking scores.

Ah, yes, the international tests.

They clearly showed a global need to foster creativity. And interestingly, it even highlighted disparities, girls often scoring better than boys, and socioeconomically advantaged students outperforming less advantaged ones.

So equity issues come into play, too.

Definitely. Which raises a big question: Why is something so vital often underestimated or sort of pushed to the side in education? And knowledge construction require creative thinking.

Right, you can't really build new knowledge without it. So what does this all mean for our mission here, helping all students succeed, learn better, thrive, if we're in this creativity crisis affecting motivation, well-being, everything? How does creativity education actually step in as a potential solution?

That's the core question.

Okay, so let's unpack this. What exactly is creativity education? Because like I said, I think for a lot of us, we hear creativity, we think art class, maybe music.

Yeah, that's the common association.

But the research suggests it's way broader than that, right? It's almost like a whole different way of thinking about learning itself.

Absolutely. It's fundamental. The research introduces a really helpful framework, creativity model.

OK, four C's.

So you have big C. That's your groundbreaking revolutionary stuff. Think Einstein, Marie Curie, Picasso. World-changing breakthroughs.

Right. The geniuses.

Then there's little c. That's our everyday creativity. Solving a problem at home, finding a shortcut, maybe cooking without a recipe. Stuff we all do.

Makes sense.

But crucially, and this is really important for education, for helping students learn, we need to focus on mini C.

Mini C. Okay, what's that?

Mini C refers to those personal eureka moments. Those insights or discoveries that are genuinely new to the individual pupil.

Exactly.

It's that sudden flash of understanding, the unique connection they make, or a solution they figure out, even if others already know it. Acknowledging and actively fostering these mini-C's moments is absolutely vital for fulfilling the pupil's potential. It's seen as a critical developmental stage. It nurtures and leads towards Pro-C, that's creativity and innovation in a professional setting, the kind that drives careers.

Right, like creativity at work.

Yes, and potentially even towards Big C later on. It's about recognizing that every child has this innate spark of originality. We just need to fan it.

I like that. Fanning the spark.

And if we connect this to the bigger picture, think about the OECD's Learning Compass 20/30.

That framework for future skills.

Exactly. It outlines the competencies students need for well-being and to contribute meaningfully to society. And what's compelling is how perfectly creativity education aligns with this. It explicitly stresses pupils' agency for creating value. It's about actively fostering skills like out-of-the-box thinking, critical and creative thinking, finding new solutions, and, importantly, tolerating ambiguity.

Tolerating ambiguity. That feels very relevant right now.

Doesn't it? It's about preparing students not just to know facts, but to do something meaningful and innovative with that knowledge. Incredibly powerful way to help them learn better and actually reach their goals.

That makes perfect sense. It sounds much more holistic. So, okay, with this understanding of what creativity education is, what are the specific tangible learning outcomes it aims for? The outcomes that directly help students learn better, overcome challenges like, say, reading comprehension, manage anxiety, and really reach their aspirations.

Right, let's get concrete. The research details five key outcomes, challenges you mentioned. First, lifelong learning. And this isn't just a buzzword.

We hear a lot of it.

We do. But here it means cultivating a deep love for learning that lasts, along with flexibility and adaptability to change. This directly helps students reach their goals by equipping them to constantly learn new things in our, let's face it, incredibly dynamic world long after they leave school.

So learning how to learn, essentially.

Yeah, that's a huge part of it. Second, entrepreneurial competency.

Okay, interesting. Not just for business types.

Not at all. Essential qualities like curiosity, originality, self-motivation, but also the practical skills of implementation, and importantly, a willingness to take calculated risks, intelligent risks. These are the internal drivers that help students pursue their ambitions, turn ideas into action, get tangible results. Imagine a student who designs a solution to a local problem instead of just writing a report about it. That's this competency in action.

Got it. Helping them do things.

Exactly. It involves examining problems rigorously. That's the critical part. But then generating truly personal insights and innovative solutions, the creative part. This combination is absolutely essential for deep comprehension and effective problem solving. It moves way beyond rote memorization.

So it directly impacts understanding.

Massively. It's about not just what to think, but how to think effectively. Fourth, interdisciplinary creative problem solving.

Okay. Breaking down subject silos.

Precisely. Weaving together insights, methods, knowledge from diverse fields to solve varied issues. You often see this in things like project-based learning, PBL.

Right. Kids tackle real-world problems.

Exactly. Problems that don't fit neatly into a math box or history box. This helps students learn better by showing them how knowledge connects. It significantly improves comprehension and retention because they're applying it hands-on in relevant ways, learning by doing, across subjects.

Making it stick.

And finally, fifth, ethics. Nurturing a humane approach toward technology's positive and responsible use, which, as you can imagine, is incredibly important now.

Especially now, yeah, with AI and everything.

Absolutely. Now, what's particularly compelling here, circling back to helping all students, is that the research explicitly describes creativity education as a valuable equity policy.

Equity policy? How so?

Because, and I'm quoting loosely here, it enables pupils from diverse backgrounds to express their individual creative potentials, directing them toward fulfilling their unique gifts. It provides equal opportunity toward success.

Wow, that's powerful.

it. It directly speaks to helping struggling students. Think of the kid who doesn't shine on multiple choice tests, but has an amazing way of visualizing things or connecting ideas differently. Creativity education creates pathways for their gifts to be seen, valued, celebrated. It gives them an equal shot, regardless of background or learning style.

That's incredibly powerful. That equity piece really shifts the perspective. It's not about fixing deficits. It's about finding and nurturing gifts.

Exactly. A strengths-based approach.

This more. How do we actually equip teachers to do this, to facilitate this kind of transformative learning? The research points to some essential types of knowledge needed for teacher training.

Right. We need to empower the teachers. The research often draws on foundational models, like Lee Shulman's work, outlining key knowledge types for any solid teacher training.

Okay, what are they?

Well, first, content knowledge. And this isn't just knowing facts. It's understanding why a subject matters, things both in theory and practice so the so what factor exactly then there's pedagogic knowledge this is all about the how of teaching the most effective ways to help students understand identifying common misconceptions finding strategies to help them rearrange their thinking this is crucial for supporting learning and boosting comprehension how to teach it well yes then curricular knowledge understanding the different teaching alternatives available texts software programs tools and knowing how to choose and adapt them for different needs.

Being flexible with materials. And critically, there's knowledge about the diverse pupils' characteristics. This means teachers really understand their learners intellectually, socially, culturally, developmentally, personally. Their research strongly emphasizes that leveraging their assets would help respond to their needs.

Assets, not deficits. There it is again. It's key.

This is a direct path to helping struggling students by tailoring instruction to their individual strengths, their learning styles, their unique situations. Personalizing it. And finally, knowledge for classroom management, which includes, yes, generic methods for organization, but also being proactive and responsive, guiding both autonomous and collaborative learning, creating that structured yet flexible space.

That sounds like a really solid foundation for any teacher, honestly. But how does this broad framework translate into the day-to-day reality? Right. Bridging theory and practice. This is where practical frameworks come in, like the SCALE model that stands for Support for Creativity in a Learning Environment, developed by researchers like Richardson and Mishra. It outlines concrete principles for teacher training focused on creating that vibrant, creative learning space. It centers on three core components: Participation. This emphasizes active inquiry. Casings where teachers and students are genuinely co-learners, not just one lecturing the other.

Learning together.

Yes, with a focus on both the process of learning and the final product. Imagine a history class debating a dilemma, co-creating something, not just memorizing dates. That's active participation. Okay. Second, and this directly tackles your point about anxiety, is classroom climate. This is huge.

The feel of the room.

Exactly. Fostering genuinely positive relationships. Teacher-pupil, pupil-pupil. It highlights open, safe, and caring communication to support taking risks and sharing ideas based on common trust.

Safety and trust. That sounds key for anxiety.

It's paramount. When a classroom feels like a realm of safety, as some research calls it, where kids aren't afraid to make mistakes or share a weird idea. It dramatically reduces anxiety.

Yeah, I can see that.

And it encourages participation from everyone, including those who might usually hang back. That safety builds trust, making students feel secure enough to engage fully, ask questions, really grapple with the material, which, of course, boosts comprehension.

Makes total sense. What's the third part of scale?

The physical environment, designing flexible spaces, movable furniture to suit different activities, having a richness of stimuli that invites curiosity, maybe a maker corner, maybe flexible seating.

Adapting the space itself.

Right. And building on this, the research also points to key creative pedagogical practices, Teachers can use generating and exploring ideas, promoting autonomy and agency, playfulness. That's important to creative problem solving, risk taking, co-constructing and collaborating and teacher creativity. Teachers modeling it themselves.

So the teacher has to be creative, too.

Ideally, yes. And researchers like Lynn break down creative pedagogy into three connected aspects. Creative teaching, the methods used, teaching for creativity, nurturing student competencies, and creative learning, the students' own autonomous discovery.

Wow, that sounds incredibly comprehensive. A real blueprint for teachers to support all students, handle diverse needs, build that safe, engaging space, moving from theory right into classroom action.

That's the goal.

Now, here's where, for me, it gets particularly compelling, especially thinking about those really practical questions and how to help students reach their goals in a concrete way. The research highlights a specific transformative approach called the Five E's strategy.

Ah, yes, the five E's.

What are these powerful E's? How do they make learning really stick and lead to results?

The five E's strategy, which Kornfeld developed, provides a really clear sequential process for teachers. It helps them go beyond instruction and truly guide students through active constructive learning.

Okay, walk us through them.

The first E is explore. This is where the teacher introduces a challenge, a compelling problem, a fascinating question. The aim is to get students to take a broad view, spark their curiosity, maybe build empathy for the topic.

Setting the stage, grabbing attention.

Making it relevant right away. Imagine starting a science unit not with the textbook, but with the question, why is our local pond struggling?

Okay, hook some in. What's next?

The second E is experience. Here, students dive deep into experiential learning, conversation, interaction. This is where they draw on insights and ideas through hands-on activity. The doing part. The doing part. Experiments, simulations, debates, field trips, building things, interviewing people. This direct engagement is absolutely key for deep learning and, crucially, for information retention. You remember what you do. It makes it personal, memorable.

Right. Much harder to forget something you actually experienced.

For sure. The third E is examine. This is the reflection piece. Students apply critical thinking, analyze findings, develop potential solutions, maybe even prototype and test them.

So processing what happened, making sense of it.

Precisely. Yeah. It deepens understanding, moves beyond just surface comprehension. It's the what did we learn, why does it matter, how does it work stage.

Okay. Explore, experience, examine. What's fourth?

Fourth is elevate. This is where teachers guide students to develop their refined ideas into original learning products. Maybe using AI tools to help, maybe not. But it's about creating something tangible.

Taking it to the next level, creating an output.

Exactly. This is where creative thinking leads to concrete results. A presentation, a model, an essay, a digital story, a proposal. This directly helps students practice constructing their learning towards their goals, turning knowledge into achievement.

I see. Very results-oriented. And the last E.

The fifth E is express. Students present their learning products to classmates, maybe to guests, parents, local experts, community members.

Sharing their work.

Yes, this final step solidifies the learning, allows for feedback, and really builds confidence. It's a powerful moment of demonstrating mastery and sharing their unique perspective.

Explore, experience, examine, elevate, express. It flows really logically.

It does. And what's truly transformative here is how this 5E strategy embodies transdisciplinarity.

Transdisciplinarity, meaning?

Learned beyond just mastering one subject. It's about cultivating skills that cut across disciplines. Think of those approaches we mentioned. Project-based learning, STEAM, adding art to STEM, arts integration, design thinking, maker-centered learning.

Right. They all blend subjects.

They do. This holistic, interdisciplinary approach makes learning incredibly memorable, relevant, applicable to the real world, which massively helps comprehension and long-term retention. And the research explicitly connects this to innovation. Seeing it as nurturing skills for Pro-C creative problem-solving and innovation.

Pro-C, the professional-level creativity.

Exactly. So it directly addresses students' Abilities not just to understand, but to actively construct learning towards meaningful results and ultimately future success.

So wrapping this up. What does this all mean for you, our listener? As we finish this deep dive into creativity, education, teacher training, what's the big takeaway here?

I think it means that nurturing creativity in the classroom isn't just some nice-to-have peripheral activity or an elective for a few kids.

It's core.

It really is. It's a fundamental, powerful shift that genuinely empowers teachers to tackle some of the most pressing, persistent challenges in education today. It fundamentally helps students who are struggling by tapping into their individual potential, offering multiple engaging ways to understand. It profoundly eases classroom anxiety by building that foundation of safety, trust, and open communication, creating a space where every student feels secure enough to explore, risk, contribute.

Addressing the anxiety piece directly.

Directly. It dramatically enhances comprehension by using active, hands-on, interdisciplinary methods, making learning meaningful and deeply connected to their lives.

Making it stick.

Truly retain information, and, crucially, practice constructing learning toward tangible, real-world results. It prepares them not just for the next test, but for an unpredictable future where adaptability, innovation, problem-solving, those are the currencies.

Skills for life, really.

Exactly. Ultimately, it's about empowering students to fulfill their unique potential and achieve genuine well-being, both in school and long after.

This really does raise a vital question then, doesn't it? In a world that's increasingly shaped by powerful artificial intelligence, where facts are instant, algorithms can generate text, images, code. How incredibly crucial is it for us right now to protect and vigorously foster these uniquely human creative processes in our children?

Feels more important than ever.

And thinking as a community, what concrete steps can we take? How can we better support our teachers in actually building these dynamic creative realms in every single classroom, ensuring every child gets this chance to thrive in this new landsca333pe? Something for you, our listener, to perhaps mull over or explore on your own.

 3