Why CSI?

An ARRA Innovation Grant funded project that takes

a two prong approach

• increase opportunities for students to become more creative and innovative

• provide teacher training in how to provide these opportunities

to meet the following goals

1)  increase the opportunities for students to participate in technology rich learning activities that develop creative and innovative thinking

2)  increase the skills of educators necessary to explicitly address the standard of Creativity and Innovation in instructional design

3) increase the research and information fluency of both teachers and students

The Creativity Crisis  by  Pro Bronson & Ashley Merryman (Newsweek:  July 10, 2010)

...creativity in America is declining. Yet according to a recent poll of CEO, “creativity is the No. 1 ‘leadership competency” of the future.  

 “Overwhelmed by curriculum standards, American teachers warn there’s no room in the day for a creativity class…. Researchers say creativity should be taken out of the art room and put into homeroom. The argument that we can’t teach creativity because kids already have too much to learn is a false trade-off. Creativity isn’t about freedom from concrete facts. Rather, fact-finding and deep research are vital stages in the creative process

"“Researchers say creativity should be taken out of the art room and put into homeroom. The argument that we can’t teach creativity because kids already have too much to learn is a false trade-off. Creativity isn’t about freedom from concrete facts. Rather, fact-finding and deep research are vital stages in the creative process.”  "

Sir Ken Robinson’s TED TALK that “Schools are killing creativity”  

Dan Pink message in “A Whole New Mind” that creativity is the key to America’s economic success.  He continues this message in his recent book Drive