In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett are joined by Dr. Camille McKayle, who shares her insights on developing creativity in the higher education system at the University of Virgin Islands in her role as Provost.
Camille discusses the importance of teaching Creative Problem Solving (CPS) and promoting a growth mindset to foster creative thinking among students. She highlights the positive impact of these approaches, with students who go through the program achieving higher GPAs in subsequent semesters.
Camille also emphasizes the significance of appointing Igniters, individuals who are resourceful and eager to engage with new ideas. The Igniters receive training in Creative Problem Solving (CPS) and offer guidance to units in their problem-solving efforts. She reveals that the university president has shown support for the Creativity Lab, utilizing its services for sessions and involving the CPS process in the development of an innovative building.
Throughout the episode, Camille delves into her own journey with creativity, from her fascination with number theory and the thinking process of mathematicians to her realization that everyone has the capacity to be creative. She describes the Boost program at the University of the Virgin Islands, which targets students with a GPA of 2.5 or below and focuses on creative problem solving, growth mindset, and entrepreneurial skills.
Overall, this episode delves into the importance of creative thinking in education and how it can empower students to believe in their abilities. The ideas discussed here are not only applicable within the UVI community but also offer valuable insights for educators and institutions worldwide.
And whenever we get a chance, us mathematicians get a chance to go and talk to students or children and say, younger the better. About mathematics, it is almost never about addition and subtraction. It might be about shapes, or it might be about bubbles, or it might be about knots, or it might be about something. And at the end I go, but didn’t do any mathematics. And we go, you did. You just didn’t think it was mathematics. So I think mathematicians think about mathematics and creativity almost as one differently than other people who hear mathematics. Think about it.
Dr. Camille A. McKayle
Dr. Camille A. McKayle is Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). As Provost, she led the development of UVI’s first PhD program in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change, which graduated its first PhD recipients in 2018. She has also been instrumental in starting a Creativity Lab at UVI, which serves to train faculty, staff and students in creative problem solving, as well as facilitate planning and visioning through a creative approach.
Dr. McKayle received her Ph.D. in Mathematics, from Lehigh University. Additionally, she completed a Master’s Certificate in Creativity and Change Leadership from Buffalo State College’s International Center for Creativity Studies. Her current research interests are in the areas of Creativity Studies, Creativity and Leadership, HBCU Leadership, STEM Education and STEM Leadership.
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