Creative Intelligence in the 21st Century: Grappling with Enormous Problems and Huge Opportunities (Advances in Creativity and Giftedness Book 11)

How can creative individuals and societies adapt to complex 21st-century conditions? Will civilizations thrive or collapse in the decades to come if they are not creative enough, or if they are too creative? Interest in these questions is growing; however, until now there has been inadequate understanding of the socioeconomic and cultural trends and issues that influence creativity. This book provides that understanding while yielding insights from many of the world’s leading creativity researchers and educational experts. The book begins with a big-picture, interdisciplinary overview of the socioeconomic, cultural, and technological pressures emerging from 21st-century globalization and describes some ways in which those pressures simultaneously suppress, distort, and invigorate creativity in general, and creative education in particular. After that, prominent scholars of creativity and education use their impressive knowledge bases to clarify how we can adjust our thoughts and actions in order to give ourselves the best possible chances for success in this complex world. “The world’s problems are complex, messy, and seemingly intractable, but history tells us that human creativity finds solutions to even the most daunting problems. This book collects perspectives on creative development from many of the most respected scholars and educators working in creativity and innovation today, helping chart a path forward for creativity in the 21st century.” – Jonathan Plucker, Julian C. Stanley Endowed Professor of Talent Development, Johns Hopkins University “A volume taking on macro-opportunities and macroproblems by editors Ambrose and Sternberg is a treat for readers who want to think ‘big’ and think ‘forward.’ Kick back for an imaginative journey that reaches back to early global insights but propels us solidly into the 21st century and beyond.” – Ann Robinson, Past President, National Association for Gifted Children TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 FOREWORD: Stream of Consciousness on Creativity, Globalization, Technology, and What Is Happening in a Rapidly Changing World 8 SECTION I: RECOGNIZING POWERFUL CONTEXTUAL INFLUENCES ON CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE 12 1. PREVIEWING A COLLABORATIVE EXPLORATION OF CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY 13 SOME BIG ISSUES TESTING OUR CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE 14 TWO-SIDED ATTRIBUTES FOR CREATIVELY DEALING WITH 21ST-CENTURY GLOBALIZATION 15 Optimism 16 Individualism 17 Diversity 18 Confidence, Certainty, and Striving for Precision 19 AN OVERVIEW OF THE CONTENTS OF THE VOLUME 20 CONCLUDING THOUGHTS 25 NOTE 27 REFERENCES 28 2. TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY CONTEXTUAL INFLUENCES ON THE LIFE TRAJECTORIES OF CREATIVE YOUNG PEOPLE 31 CATCH A WAVE: A METAPHORICAL LANDSCAPE FOR THE DEVELOPMENTAL TRAJECTORIES OF CIVILIZATIONS, EDUCATION SYSTEMS, AND CREATIVELY INTELLIGENT INDIVIDUALS 32 Societal Context: Will Our Civilization Thrive or Collapse? 32 Examples of Macro-Opportunities 36 Example of a Macroproblem/Macro-Opportunity Hybrid 38 Examples of Macroproblems 39 EDUCATION SYSTEMS: A BIG-PICTURE ANALYSIS THROUGH THE LENS OF THE CATCH A WAVE MODEL 42 TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND DISPOSITIONS 45 Broad and Deep Proficiency in the Subject Areas 46 Creative Thinking Skills and Inquiry-Based Dispositions 46 Critical Thinking Skills and Dispositions 47 Interdisciplinary Thinking 47 Visual-Spatial Literacy 47 Information-Technology Skills 48 Financial, Business, Economic, and Entrepreneurial Acumen 49 Intrapersonal Self-Discovery and a Sense of Purpose 49 Cognitive Diversity 50 Interpersonal Ability, Collaborative Skill, and Leadership 50 Ethical Insight, Global and Multicultural Awareness, and Personal and Social Responsibility 50 CONCLUDING THOUGHTS 51 REFERENCES 52 SECTION II: CREATIVITY IN THE TURBULENT 21ST CENTURY 59 3. THE DECLINE OF THE WEST? A COMPARATIVE CIVILIZATIONS PERSPECTIVE 60 THEORETICAL SPECULATIONS 61 Ancient and Medieval Theories 61 Post-Renaissance and Modern 62 EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATIONS 64 Cultural Configurations: Creative Geniuses 65 Intellectual History: Philosophical Systems 66 Aesthetic Evolution: Artistic Styles 68 POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS 69 REFERENCES 71 4. WE MUST PREPARE FOR THE UNFORESEEABLE FUTURE 74 THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE PROBLEM 75 TRANSFORMATIONAL CAPACITY 78 CONCLUSIONS 80 REFERENCES 81 5. ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION: Why Shouldn’t People Dislike Creativity? 83 CONCLUSION 90 REFERENCES 90 6. A WHOLE NEW WAY OF WORKING WITH CREATIVITY, INNOVATION AND INNOVATORS 96 GLOBALIZATION, DISRUPTION, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 96 THE IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON ORGANIZATIONS 97 A NEW WORLD OF WORK AND INNOVATION 100 RETHINKING THE CENTRAL ROLE OF INNOVATORS AND CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE 101 IDENTIFYING BARRIERS TO INNOVATION 103 ADVANCING INNOVATION AND SUPPORTING INNOVATORS 105 CONCLUSION 108 REFERENCES 108 7. FACILITATING CREATIVE THINKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY: When Constraints Help 113 THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON CREATIVITY 113 CONSTRAINTS AS CREATIVITY ANCHORS 115 THE GREEN EGGS AND HAM HYPOTHESIS: CONSTRAINTS IN CREATIVITY 117 CONSTRAINTS IN CREATIVITY: APPLICATIONS TO 21ST-CENTURY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 118 CONCLUSION 121 REFERENCES 122 SECTION III: UNSHACKLING STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOLS: RECOGNIZING CONTEXTUAL CONSTRAINTS 124 8. SQUEEZED OUT: The Threat of Global Homogenization of Education to Creativity 125 GLOBAL HOMOGENIZATION OF EDUCATION 126 Driving Standardization and Homogenization: The Power of PISA 126 Easternization in the West: Successful Attempts at Reform in the West 128 Westernization: Unsuccessful Attempts at Reform in the East 129 HOW HOMOGENIZATION SQUEEZES OUT CREATIVITY 130 Curriculum-Narrowing and Teacher-Centered Pedagogy 130 Corrosive Emotional Atmospheres 132 The Deterioration of Local Cultures and Practices 134 COUNTERING THE NEGATIVE IMPACT 136 REFERENCES 137 9. THE CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE OF TEACHERS RESISTING THE PEARSONIZING OF GLOBAL EDUCATION 143 CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE USED IN RESISTING 149 TRANSFORMATION THROUGH TEACHING 156 CONCLUSION 157 REFERENCES 157 SECTION IV: INVIGORATING CREATIVITY IN EDUCATION 161 10. LEVERAGING MICRO-OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS MACROPROBLEMS: Toward an Unshakeable Sense of Possibility Thinking 162 AN UNSHAKEABLE SENSE OF POSSIBILITY THINKING 163 THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE PARADOX 167 What Is Teaching? 168 Constrained Teaching and Learning 169 TOWARD TEACHING FOR UPT 171 Position Subject Matter as a Starting Point 171 Focus on Curricular Possibilities 172 View Curricular Uncertainty as a Pedagogical Opportunity 173 CONCLUDING THOUGHTS 174 NOTE 175 REFERENCES 176 11. CREATIVITY AND THE COMMON CORE NEED EACH OTHER 178 OVERVIEW OF THE CHAPTER 178 THE COMMON CORE AND ITS CRITICS 179 HOW DO CREATIVITY AND THE COMMON CORE NEED EACH OTHER? 180 THE PROBLEM OF TESTING 187 CONCLUSION 189 NOTES 190 REFERENCES 191 12. CREATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY LEARNING: A Transformative Vision for Education in the 21st Century 194 CREATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE APPROACHES TO TEACHING LITERACY 195 Emotional Intelligence and Literacy Learning 199 Intercultural Intelligence and Literacy Learning 200 A MULTICULTURAL LITERACY CURRICULUM 200 Social Justice and Critical Literacy 202 Juxtapositioning Literacies 203 CREATING CRITICAL LITERACY CURRICULA 205 Designing Literacy Curriculum with Essential Questions 206 Critical Literacy’s Interdisciplinary Nature 208 WORKING TOWARD A TRANSFORMATIVE VISION OF EDUCATION AND LITERACY 210 REFERENCES 211 13. CULTIVATING INNOVATION THROUGH INVENTION: How Rube Goldberg Inventions Can Ignite Creativity 214 CULTIVATING INNOVATION THROUGH INVENTION 214 THE IMPORTANCE OF INNOVATION 216 INTEGRATING INNOVATION INTO THE CURRICULUM 217 Traits of Successful Innovators 217 Developing an Innovation Mindset 218 Creativity and Empathetic Thinking 219 Problem Complexity and Empathetic Thinking in Innovation 220 INVENTING 222 Unleashing Creativity through Rube Goldberg Curricula 223 Rube Goldberg Inventions 223 REFLECTIONS ON THE GOLDBERG EXPERIENCE 229 Building Personal Interaction 230 Discovering Intrapersonal Strengths 230 CONCLUSION 231 REFERENCES 233 14. CREATIVITY AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: Can They Co-Exist for Transformational Change in Education? 235 HISTORY OF LEADERSHIP 236 Situational Leadership 236 LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AND SKILLS NEEDED FOR THE FUTURE 237 MANIFESTED CREATIVITY 237 Exemplar: Sidney J. Parnes 237 Exemplar: Annemarie Roeper 241 Human Purpose and the Field of the Future: A Leadership Theory in the Making 243 THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING CREATIVE LEADERSHIP 244 THE SOCIAL CHANGE MODEL OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 244 Developing the Seven Cs in the Social Change Model (MCM) 245 Emerging Leaders for Innovation across Sectors (ELIAS): A Theory U-Inspired Model 245 Leading from the Future as It Emerges 246 STRUCTURES OF ATTENTION 247 Seven Leadership Capacities 247 Addressing Creative Leadership in the Classroom with Applications of Theory U 250 Role of the Teacher in Addressing Creative Productivity 250 SEVEN CS APPLICATION TO THE CLASSROOM 251 Individual Values 251 Group Values 252 THEORY U: ONE PROCESS AND FIVE MOVEMENTS TOWARD CREATIVE LEADERSHIP 253 EDUCATIONAL APPLICATION WITH FAILING SCHOOLS 253 CREATIVITY AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CAN COEXIST IN THE CLASSROOM 254 REFERENCES 255 SECTION V: CONCLUSION 257 15. WHAT’S WRONG AND HOW TO FIX IT: Balance of Abilities Matters More than Levels 258 WHAT’S WRONG? 258 BALANCE OF ABILITIES 259 Imbalance of High Analytical Ability—the Robert McNamara Syndrome 259 Imbalance of High Creative Ability—the Vincent Van Gogh Syndrome 259 Imbalance of High Practical Ability—the Vladimir Putin Syndrome 260 CREATIVE, ANALYTICAL, AND PRACTICAL ABILITIES TEMPERED BY WISDOM 261 REFERENCES 262 ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS 264 SUBJECT INDEX 272 How can creative individuals and societies adapt to complex 21st-century conditions? Will civilizations thrive or collapse in the decades to come if they are not creative enough, or if they are too creative? Interest in these questions is growing; however, until now there has been inadequate understanding of the socioeconomic and cultural trends and issues that influence creativity. This book provides that understanding while yielding insights from many of the world's leading creativity researchers and educational experts. The book begins with a big-picture, interdisciplinary overview of the socioeconomic, cultural, and technological pressures emerging from 21st-century globalization and describes some ways in which those pressures simultaneously suppress, distort, and invigorate creativity in general, and creative education in particular. After that, prominent scholars of creativity and education use their impressive knowledge bases to clarify how we can adjust our thoughts and actions in order to give ourselves the best possible chances for success in this complex world. zThe world's problems are complex, messy, and seemingly intractable, but history tells us that human creativity finds solutions to even the most daunting problems. This book collects perspectives on creative development from many of the most respected scholars and educators working in creativity and innovation today, helping chart a path forward for creativity in the 21st century.y - Jonathan Plucker, Julian C. Stanley Endowed Professor of Talent Development, Johns Hopkins University zA volume taking on macro-opportunities and macroproblems by editors Ambrose and Sternberg is a treat for readers who want to think 'big' and think 'forward.' Kick back for an imaginative journey that reaches back to early global insights but propels us solidly into the 21st century and beyond.y - Ann Robinson, Past President, National Association for Gifted Children Front Matter....Pages i-ix Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Previewing a Collaborative Exploration of Creative Intelligence in the 21st Century....Pages 3-20 Twenty-First Century Contextual Influences on the Life Trajectories of Creative Young People....Pages 21-48 Front Matter....Pages 49-49 The Decline of the West? A Comparative Civilizations Perspective....Pages 51-64 We Must Prepare for the Unforeseeable Future....Pages 65-73 Asking the Wrong Question....Pages 75-87 A Whole New Way of Working With Creativity, Innovation and Innovators....Pages 89-105 Facilitating Creative Thinking in the 21st Century....Pages 107-117 Front Matter....Pages 119-119 Squeezed Out....Pages 121-138 The Creative Intelligence of Teachers Resisting the Pearsonizing of Global Education....Pages 139-156 Front Matter....Pages 157-157 Leveraging Micro-Opportunities to Address Macroproblems....Pages 159-174 Creativity and the Common Core Need Each Other....Pages 175-190 Creative Approaches to Literacy Learning....Pages 191-210 Cultivating Innovation through Invention....Pages 211-231 Creativity and Leadership Development....Pages 233-254 Front Matter....Pages 255-255 What’s Wrong and How to Fix it....Pages 257-262 Back Matter....Pages 263-276