How might we provide feedback to build creative confidence in our students?
In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett dive into an engaging conversation with Anne Jacoby, founder of the culture consultancy Spring Street. The discussion centers on the importance of effective feedback in promoting creative thinking within the classroom environment. Anne elaborates on her unique approach to cultivating creativity in professional spaces through cultural assessments, leadership programs, and coaching.
Anne shares her educational journey, reflecting on how her experiences in creative and arts-intensive environments, including the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, fostered her own creative confidence. She emphasizes the importance of providing students with specific, immediate feedback, drawing parallels between her experiences in the arts and her observations in the corporate world. The conversation highlights how environments that support creativity contribute to lifelong skills of accepting and utilizing constructive criticism.
The speakers delve into the idea of “passing notes” as a method for providing effective feedback. They focus on creating a culture where feedback is integral to the learning process rather than a critiquing mechanism that induces defensiveness. Anne recounts how receiving notes in a public setting within theater and dance classes fosters a norm of continuous improvement and collaborative growth. lenges and benefits of this feedback method.
Anne shares creativity boosters from her book “Born to Create” to provide listeners with actionable strategies. The hosts challenge each other with a playful activity using clay to create awards for their colleagues, demonstrating a practical way for educators to engage students in creative thinking. This episode provides insights into effective feedback and tangible methods for educators to incorporate creative thinking into their teaching practices.
But it’s also pretty remarkable that it’s done in a public setting.
And I’ve been reflecting on that too. I think in the workplace we’re
so cautious about, oh, any criticism given in private. And for the
most part, I agree with that. But there is something pretty powerful
about hey, here’s this open forum. We’re going to share all the
things that could be improved upon, and it’s just part of the norm.
It’s the social norm that we’ve created together.Anne Jacoby
Anne Jacoby’s educational journey is deeply rooted in her diverse learning experiences. Beginning in public education, Anne’s early grammar and elementary school years laid the foundation for her academic path. Her most transformative stage came during middle school in California’s San Diego Valley, where she attended a small, outdoorsy private school.
This unique institution, where students addressed teachers by their first names, offered a hands-on learning environment teeming with outdoor activities and unconventional electives like basket weaving and woodworking. Anne’s mother, an algebra teacher at the school, played a pivotal role in her education. This immersive and holistic approach to learning profoundly shaped Anne, fostering a deep connection with the material and providing an enriching educational experience that continues to influence her today.
Episode Debrief
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