S2.9.6 Creative Problem Solvers Today – Innovative Leaders Tomorrow!

The 21st Century requires powerful and innovative global leaders who must possess effective problem-solving skills. Gifted students do not automatically develop into leaders or problem solvers; rather, they must be provided appropriate tools to acquire these behaviors. The Partnership for 21st Century Learning identified four Cs: Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking — all of which are addressed within Creative Problem Solving (CPS). Audience members will practice CPS activities incorporating idea-generating and idea-focusing tools. A study will be shared that demonstrates when students learn about and are given strategies to hone their problem-solving styles, their performance in creative problem-solving significantly improves.

Author(s):

Marcia Delcourt
marcydelcourt@aol.com
Western Connecticut State University
United States

Marcia Delcourt, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Education and Educational Psychology at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU), where she received WCSU’s Teaching Excellence Award. She is the Coordinator of the Doctoral Program in Instructional Leadership. She has been the Principal Investigator or evaluator for 35 grants and has been a teacher, program coordinator, and consultant. She currently serves as a member of the advisory board for the Connecticut Association for the Gifted and has a longstanding research commitment to instructional needs of gifted students, social and emotional learning, fostering creativity, and the uses of technology in education.

April Dennis
april@fpspi.org
Future Problem Solving Program International
United States

April Dennis, Executive Director, has worked in official capacity with Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) since 2012. With a background in advanced curriculum strategies and highly engaging learning techniques, April enjoys being part of a student-driven organization designed to promote students as leaders. Expertise includes pedagogy and strategies for critical and creative thinking. April has filled multiple roles providing quality educational services for students and adults in both the United States and internationally. Prior to joining FPSPI, April earned her National Board certification while teaching elementary school and Gifted Education for 13 years.

Sandy Horton
sandyhortonfps@bellsouth.net
North Carolina Future Problem Solving
United States

Sandy Horton is the Affiliate Director for North Carolina Future Problem Solving. She is a talented author for the program and writes futuristic scenarios for students to solve. She develops other writings in her freelance and editing work. She is a valuable resource on gifted education, language arts, creative writing, and problem solving.