Tinkering with Technology: Creating Conditions for Critical and Creative Thinking
Abstract: The purpose of this presentation is to apply what we know about how to nurture creative and critical thinking and identify ways that technology can facilitate those efforts in teacher education and ultimately in k-12 classrooms We will explore the nature of creative and critical thinking as 21st century skills and discuss the conditions that allow for their development We will explore how technology can assist teachers and teacher educators in creating prime conditions for nurturing, enhancing and motivating creative and critical thinking using specific examples from a teacher preparation program that connects teacher candidates with current teachers who use technology tools in ways that capture the imagination of learners and unleash their creative and problem solving potential