This article is an edited version of a Keynote Address provided for the 2021 Creativity Conference hosted by Southern Oregon University. The talk opens with the following question: “What role does our experience with uncertainty play in our creative thoughts and actions?” The remainder of the talk is focused on addressing this question, starting with the assertion that there is no creativity without uncertainty and several other operating assumptions aimed at establishing a basis for this assertion. Next, a model of creativity under uncertainty is introduced. The model outlines how encounters with uncertainty in a particular socio-cultural and historical moment can be experienced as epistemologically and ontologically destabilizing, and thereby, result in a state of genuine doubt. This state of doubt, when perceived as actionable, can open-up a horizon of new possibilities for creative activity. The model further outlines how taking creative action in the face of uncertainty can (temporarily) resolve our state of doubt and re-stabilize our experiences. Implications for inviting uncertainty into educational learning environments are also discussed.
Possibility thinking (PT) can be described as an imaginative and action-oriented process that drives movement from what is to what could be. The promise of PT is most fully realized in collaboration with others. With recent advances in AI, it can be argued that natural language models (e.g. OpenAI’s GPT models) represent a possible “other” for such collaborations. This article aims to illustrate, through a conceptual case study, how Human × AI collaboration can support PT. The article opens with a brief overview of the basic principles of PT and how those principles can be applied in Human × AI collaboration. Next, a conceptual case study will be presented, which reports on six examples of Human × AI collaborations used for PT. The article closes with a brief discussion of implications and future directions, including the importance of developing a principled approach when using AI for PT. This article likely will be of interest to broad audiences within and across domains, including readers focused on human-centered AI collaborations and anyone interested in learning more about new and emerging ways to generate possibilities in their learning, work, and lives.
Creativity and the Common Core State Standards are both important to today's teachers. Yet, for many educators, nurturing students' creativity seems to conflict with ensuring that they learn specific skills and content. In this book, the authors outline ways to adapt existing lessons and mandated curricula to encourage the development of student creativity alongside more traditional academic skills. Based on cutting-edge psychological research on creativity, the text debunks common misconceptions about creativity and describes how learning environments can support both creativity and the Common Core; offers creative lessons and insights for teaching English language arts and mathematics; and includes assessments for creativity and Common Core learning. Featuring numerous classroom examples, this practical resource will empower teachers to think of the Common Core and creativity as encompassing complementary, rather than mutually exclusive, goals.
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