Today, American Enterprise Institute director of education policy studies and Education Week blogger Frederick M. Hess released his 2019 “Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings.” Each year, Hess’ committee of experts honors the top 200 university-based scholars in education — from a pool of over 20,000 — who had the greatest influence on the nation’s education discourse throughout the year.

Back in November, college leaders and local school administration members gathered to watch a presentation of what could be part of the future of how MLFTC student teachers learn how to create change — and ultimately improve the system — from the inside out.

As part of the curriculum, senior-year college students who were placed in Washington Elementary School District as student teachers — 14 to be exact — were given an opportunity and the tools to try out a mindset of “educator as designer” while in their classrooms.

Danah Henriksen, assistant professor, says using creativity in the classroom can help a teacher be more effective. “We tend to think creativity is something that people either have or they don’t have and that’s really one of the long-held myths of creativity,” she says. Below, Henriksen tells us how creativity helps students learn and offers tips on how to be creative in the classroom, such as making cross-disciplinary connections. Watch more: 

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