The Creative Educator

As this season comes to an end, keep learning about creativity and education at Adobe MAX 2022, the world's largest creative conference.    Season two guests, Zoya Bylinskii, Lindsey Vance, and Claudio Zavala are just three of the extraordinary speakers and out-of-the-box thinkers in the diverse lineup for Adobe MAX this year. Educators and students will not only hear from experts across creativity and education, but also learn how to bring their best ideas to life from skill-building sessions.   Register to attend virtually for free, or join in-person by heading to MAX.Adobe.com.   As we prepare for the upcoming season of The Creative Educator podcast, we invite you to revisit some of our favorite conversations. We'd also love to hear your suggestions for future episodes and guests! This season we explored the links between creativity and emotional wellness, how to use media to teach ocean science, the latest research behind reinventing how we read digitally and much more.   Connect: Connect with Tacy on Twitter @tacytrow or email us at creativeedu@adobe.com. Resources: Check out five must-see sessions from the education track at Adobe MAX 2022. Read more about how Adobe, in partnership with the Readability Consortium is collaborating with researchers to improve K-12 performance. Learn more about District of Columbia Public Schools projects and unique mission to teach arts education.  

Imagine if you could read 20-35% faster, while maintaining or improving overall comprehension. Readability Consortium members Readability Matters, University of Central Florida, Adobe and Google are working to make this a reality for everyone. Tacy is joined by lead researchers, Ben Sawyer, Ph.D., from the University of Central Florida, and Zoya Bylinskii, Ph.D., from Adobe's Creative Intelligence Lab, to discuss how matching people with their most compatible reading format can greatly improve reading speed and comprehension.    Individualized reading formats stand to revolutionize reading for everyone, across every age and profession – from helping students read more efficiently and effectively to cutting down the  time it takes for physicians to read patient files before treating them to helping drivers spend less time reading their GPS and more time looking at the road.   Also special thanks to Rick Treitman, Kathy Crowley and Marjorie Jordan of Readability Matters, Shaun Wallace, Tianyuan Cai, Aleena Niklaus, Mike Kraley, Stephanie Day, Shelley Rodrigo, Dr. David Miller, Amy Giroux, Bernard Kerr and the many, many other members of our readability effort.   Episode Resources: Get your own digital prescription or “reading glasses,” by taking a series of 5-minute tests to determine what fonts and personalization will make your reading faster and more efficient. Join the mission to enhance reading for everyone and learn how the Readability Consortium is collaborating with researchers to improve K-12 student performance. Learn more about Adobe's product innovations for digital reading. Read more about how Adobe, in partnership with the Readability Consortium, is working together to bring together companies like Google, as well as educators and researchers, nonprofits and government entities to make digital reading and reading comprehension more equitable. Visit the Adobe Education Exchange to find free lesson plans, templates and learning content to bring more creativity into your classroom, using free tools like Adobe Express.   Connect:   Connect with Tacy on Twitter @tacytrow, Ben Sawyer, Ph.D. @bendsawyer and Zoya Bylinskii, Ph.D. @zoyathinks. To learn more about their work, visit www.bendsawyer.com or www.zoyathinks.com.   We'd love to hear from you! Please share ideas for future episodes and guests at creativeedu@adobe.com.  

As educators do the important work of preparing the next generation for their futures, they inspire and change lives.  Their skill, commitment, and compassion are vital not only to their students but also to our communities – especially during these recent challenging times. This work isn't easy and comes with both significant rewards and challenges.   The Adobe team is celebrating teachers all month by honoring talented, hardworking educators around the world who bring creativity and innovation into their classrooms to help students acquire the essential skills to reach their fullest potential. On this special episode of The Creative Educator, Tacy is joined by various Adobe employees and partners to express gratitude for educators that have helped them on their own journey, as well as to recognize specific individuals for the difference they're making.  Connect with Tacy on Twitter @tacytrow. We'd love to hear from you.     Resources   Find creative learning content, free access to lesson plans and more by visiting Adobe Education Exchange.    Calling all creative teachers! Download your personalized CCX template today – we're recognizing you as an Adobe Super Teacher.  Learn how to create custom thank you cards for a teacher you know using Adobe Express.   Bring more creativity to your classroom and assignments with Adobe Express for Education.  

Educators and students have experienced unprecedented challenges and trauma resulting from two years of pandemic-driven stress and disruption. Now more than ever, it's important to engage in meaningful dialogue about these issues and seek out innovative ways to promote emotional wellbeing in schools.   Lindsey Vance, Visual Arts Manager for District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), and Tacy explore the relationship between creative expression and its profound ability to improve student and educator wellbeing. As licensed counselor and board-certified art therapist, Lindsey shines a light on the programs DCPS offers that help educators cultivate more compassionate classroom environments for students in addition to addressing trauma behaviors and symptoms. In addition, Lindsey shares how DCPC Arts curriculum has empowered students through creativity and digital tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, to help them develop their voice, as well as critical problem solving and communication skills.   Connect with Tacy on Twitter @tacytrow and Lindsey on LinkedIn @lindseyvance. We'd love to hear from you.  Resources  Learn more about DCPS Arts projects and its unique mission to teaching arts education.  Read about DCPS' partnership with the Pulitzer Center, which enables students to build digital literacy while capturing the essence of their community through photo essay assignments.  Bring more creativity to your classroom and assignments with Adobe Express for Education. Help students develop and practice growth mindset through these free activities.

Richard Vevers, CEO and president of The Ocean Agency, and Dr. Kelley Lê, Director of UCI Science Project, discuss the ways creative storytelling about ocean science can inspire a new generation of conservationists. Using digital tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, the Ocean Agency helps K-12 educators around the world teach students about the ocean, its essential role in protecting human life, and our obligation to be good stewards. Richard and Kelley also talk about the “Create Waves” challenge and new toolkit from Adobe and The Ocean Agency, which invites students and artists to create art that not only raises awareness for ocean conservation but also inspires real action. Connect with Tacy on Twitter @tacytrow, Richard Vevers @RichardVevers and Dr. Kelley Le @DrKelleyLe. We'd love to hear from you. Resources: Register for the upcoming webinar (April 26), “Teach Ocean Literacy to Unlock the Potential of the Ocean,” hosted by UC Irvine Science Project and The Ocean Agency. Learn how to teach students in grades 6-12 about climate change by reading Kelley's book. Read more about the steps University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) Environmental and Climate Change Literacy Projects are taking to prepare current and future educators on these issues. Bring more creativity to your classroom and assignments with Creative Cloud Express. Find creative learning content and free access to lesson plans about ocean conservation and more by visiting Adobe Education Exchange.  

Story is often used to understand the complexities of human nature and our similarities. Tacy reconnects with Claudio Zavala Jr., Digital Designer at Burleson Independent School District and Adobe Creative Cloud Express Ambassador, to explore how creative storytelling can help build community.  The pandemic has left students feeling isolated from their peers as many continue to navigate remote and hybrid learning environments. As an education influencer and former educator, Claudio shares how using digital tools such as Creative Cloud Express can help students tell their stories in ways that nurture empathy among their classmates, while creating culture and building community within their schools. He also demonstrates how we can spark creativity among students and hone their storytelling skills using creative “About Me” assignments.   Connect with Tacy on Twitter @tacytrow and Claudio Zavala Jr. @ClaudioZavalaJr. Please share ideas for future episodes and guests at creativeedu@adobe.com. We'd love to hear from you.   Resources:  Watch Claudio's step-by-step tutorials on how to use Adobe Creative Cloud Express on his YouTube channel.   Explore new ways to integrate Creative Cloud Express into your classroom.   Visit Adobe Education Exchange to find creative learning content and free access to a library of lesson plans and tutorials.  Join the Adobe Creative Educator program to find a community of inspired educators putting these insights into practice across the world.   

Welcome back! In the season two premiere of The Creative Educator, Tacy talks with Melissa Vito, vice provost of academic innovation at The University of Texas at San Antonio, and Ryan McPherson, an associate professor of practice, about newly launched research on improving student outcomes across disciplines and modalities.  Did you know students in classes with creative tools embedded in coursework are 8% more likely to stay enrolled term to term, or that new grads who list creative skills on LinkedIn earn up to 16% higher starting salaries?  New data uncovered by Civitas Learning and LinkedIn quantifies the value of creative and digital skills in students' college and career advancement while offering a roadmap to build more successful higher ed institutions.  Join Tacy, Melissa and Ryan and discover best practices for engaging faculty through meaningful, skills-based professional development, teaching creative skills across the curriculum to improve outcomes, and fostering student equity. Connect with Tacy on Twitter @tacytrow, Melissa Vito @mvpmv and Ryan McPherson @RyanMcpherson. Resources: Learn more about the study, Improving Student Outcomes: Quantifying the Impact of Creative Skills on College and Career. Watch Melissa and Ryan's Adobe MAX session for more details on how they empower their UTSA community with creative tools and digital literacy.  Read more about UTSA's deployment of creative tools and student success stories on the Adobe Blog. Explore teaching resources curated by Dr. Todd Taylor and explore other free professional development resources on the Adobe Education Exchange. Join the Adobe Creative Educator program to find a community of inspired educators putting these insights into practice across the world.

In the final installment of our three-part series reflecting on the past year, Tacy is joined by Adobe Education Curriculum Lead, Brian Johnsrud, to discuss ways to implement lessons learned. They discuss how to build community, apply creative instructional strategies that inspire student agency and instill a love of learning itself.  To wrap up season one, Tacy also invites back design consultant and educator, Rebecca Hare, who shares an easy, creative project that taps into what inspires teachers and setting intentions. She encourages them to identify what matters most and hit reset. With an eye to the future, Tacy's guests offer an optimistic outlook and tools for reflection to help educators start the new year feeling more grounded and refreshed. Connect with Tacy on Twitter @tacytrow, Brian Johnsrud @brianedtech and Rebecca Hare @RebeccaLouHare. Also please share your ideas for future episodes and guests. We'd love to hear from you at creativeedu@adobe.com.  Resources: To explore Brian's quick ideas for inspiration, check out free, ready for the classroom resources that combine Khan Academy content with creative activities. Teach Creativity with Adobe & Khan Academy | Adobe Education Exchange. Try a short creative project by remixing your own “Inspiration” poster here. Find Rebecca's book, The Space: A Guide for Educators at her website, and her conversation with Tacy on episode three of The Creative Educator podcast.

In the second of our three-part season finale, Tacy speaks with educators about what they learned from a year of immense change and the lessons they're carrying forward.  Michael Hernandez, a media arts teacher, shares how distance learning put a spotlight on longstanding issues and offered solutions for more inclusive pedagogy.  High school librarian, Indira Chakrabarti, describes navigating uncertainty and developing resilience.  Michelle Dennis, head of digital across a six campus school in Australia, explores encouraging student-led learning and the importance of giving choice. Abby Guido, assistant professor of graphic and interactive design, shares how she connected with students while teaching from afar. Associate director of learning experience, Holly Johnson, talks about reimagining curriculum to build creative confidence and foster community.     Together, they discuss broad themes we heard about this year - struggling to teach during a pandemic, finding new ways to build connection, confronting inequity, developing creative and digital skills, and deepening and adapting teaching practices. And importantly, they share their hopes for the future.   Connect with Tacy on Twitter @tacytrow, Michael Hernandez @cinehead and Michelle Dennis @michelledennis. You can find Abby Guido and Indira Chakrabarti on LinkedIn and learn more about Holly Johnson's work here.  Join the discussion through the @AdobeforEdu Twitter page or become an Adobe Creative Educator to find inspiration on ways to reflect on the year and reset this summer. Check out Abby Guido's podcast, Teaching the Business of Design. Hear more from Michael Hernandez on the Change the Narrative podcast and through his newsletter.

As the school year comes to a close, the education community has an opportunity to reflect on how the monumental shifts and the day-to-day reality of teaching and learning during the pandemic has reshaped the industry.   To help process these existential and broad-sweeping changes, Tacy is joined by Ian Wilhelm, assistant managing editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education and host of the Chronicle's webinar series. With more than 20 years of experience covering higher education, nonprofits and philanthropy, Ian helps synthesize the most critical trends and information for colleges as they navigate crisis and redefine what success looks like for students, faculty and institutions.   Their conversation raises questions like, how will we support those disproportionally disrupted by the past year in the process of rebuilding? And, what lessons will we take forward and what short-term solutions should we leave behind? One truth becomes clear: Continued transformation is guaranteed and will require the creativity and collaboration of all.  Connect with Tacy Trowbridge @tacytrow on Twitter and Ian via LinkedIn here. See more of Ian's work at the Chronicle of Higher Education, including the virtual events. Check out this collection of resources on creativity and digital literacy from Adobe and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Watch this virtual panel from the Chronicle featuring learning experts discussing, “Active Learning for a Post-Pandemic World.” Explore the Adobe Education Exchange to find distance learning inspiration and curriculum for higher education.

Employers need a workforce that can invent the future, not just maintain the status quo. Research shows that they're increasingly looking for applicants with key skills like problem solving and creativity who can complete the task at hand while finding innovative solutions for new business challenges. Leveraging her 15+ year experience transforming Adobe's business, Mala Sharma, VP & GM, Creative Cloud Product Marketing, Community & Digital Media Education joins Tacy to discuss the skills that will serve students best as they begin the job search, building on their unique strengths and helping them communicate their value to the world.    From charting her own non-linear career path to leading teams and hiring new colleagues at every level, Mala offers a candid industry perspective on what makes a student successful as they enter the world of work. She also shares how  Adobe is partnering with schools, governments and other edtech companies to create broader access to creative tools that support critical skills development, underscoring that the most important factor of effective education begins with empowering educators.     Connect with Tacy on Twitter @tacytrow and follow Mala @Malasharma on Twitter and LinkedIn.    Resources: Explore creative learning content from Adobe and Khan Academy on the Adobe Education Exchange. Read Mala's interview with Protocol on creativity and the future of learning here Learn more about Mala's teaching sabbatical in India on her blog.    Check out more insights about the demand for creative skills from Adobe's study, Get Hired: The Importance of Creative and Soft Skills.

We know creative skills are essential for students to find success in their careers and in their lives, but what does it look like to foster them in higher education? Tacy is joined by Stephen Marshall, a professor at East Tennessee State University, and his former student, Richard Amoako, to discuss how to execute hands-on learning experiences that inspire students to reach their creative potential and ultimately find meaningful work.   Tapping into Stephen's expertise as an educator and brand strategist plus Richard's experience as a recent graduate, this conversation reveals best practices for “real-world” assignments that make a lasting impact, how to bridge the gap between industry and academia and which credentials matter most for life after college.  Stay in touch with Tacy on Twitter @tacytrow and connect with Stephen and Richard on LinkedIn.

How does your space affect your ability to teach, learn or work? Check out Tacy's conversation with Rebecca Hare, an educator and design consultant, about redesigning classrooms to enhance student learning and promote creativity.    Discover the impacts that classroom setup - physical and remote - can have on students and easy shifts you can make today to optimize learning experiences. Rebecca offers tips on how to build environments that foster an inclusive classroom culture where students have agency and autonomy to determine how they learn best - even if that means reading under the table.    We're all designers, whether we realize it or not. Learn how to create your space with purpose no matter where you teach or what budget you're working with. Connect with Tacy Trowbridge on Twitter @tacytrow and keep up with today's guest, Rebecca Hare, at @RebeccaLouHare.

How is higher education changing? The pandemic accentuated important questions about the role of colleges in preparing students for a rapidly evolving future. Tacy is joined by New York Times bestselling author, journalist and education thought leader, Jeff Selingo, to discuss insights from his latest book, Who Gets in and Why, and explore some of the most pressing challenges facing higher education today. In addition to Adobe's recent research into the importance of essential creative skills in student success, Tacy and Jeff discuss his extensive investigation on today's admissions process. Jeff answers questions such as: How can colleges adapt to stay relevant? What skills and experiences provide the most value to students after graduation? And, what role do creative skills play in both college admissions and life-long success?  Connect with Tacy Trowbridge on Twitter @tacytrow and follow Jeff's latest work by following @jselingo.

Welcome to The Creative Educator Podcast! In this first episode you'll hear from Richard Culatta, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), about the challenges and opportunities facing education during a global pandemic. Richard calls on us to reimagine how to use technology in education and to teach the creative skills that help us adapt and survive. Most importantly, he reminds us why we should be hopeful about the future of education amid rapid transitions. Follow Tacy Trowbridge on Twitter @tacytrow and keep up with today's guest Richard Culatta at @rec54. Learn more about how to inspire creativity for the next generation on the Adobe Education Exchange, https://edex.adobe.com/adobe-creative-educator.