K12ArtChat the Podcast

In this episode the Creativity Department discusses the concept of expanding permissions around art making, developing ideas, and process with Jorge Lucero. Jorge is an artist, art educator, and author of What Happens at the Intersection of Conceptual Art & Teaching . Explore what can happen if we get out of our heads long enough to think differently about our practices and how by leaning into...

In this episode, Davis Publications Curator of Images, Karl Cole joins the Creativity Department to answer common questions about choosing images to use in art lessons. Hear about Karl’s curatorial process and how he tackles questions such as, “How much information should you know about an artist before sharing their work?” Listen in as they discuss curating images for Davis Publications, working...

In this episode the Creativity Department is joined by current FSU Senior Reahna Robinson to talk about how the art education world and the education community at large can support educators with disabilities. Reahna talks about her own experiences studying to become a music teacher and how she thinks educators with disabilities could best be supported in the classroom, as well as through their co...

In this episode the Creativity Department is joined by art educators and creative collaborators Samuel Peck & David Modler for a discussion about the importance of “process over product”. Hear how they encourage their pre-service teachers to focus on the creative processes of art making rather than producing a “good” artwork. Learn how “process over product” helps student development and corre...

In this episode the Creativity Department is joined by returning guest Tim Needles to talk about the disruption Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is causing in the art and education worlds. They tackle topics such as how art educators can embrace this technology as a hi-tech tool and how to ensure students use it in safe and responsible ways. Explore how A.I. can be incorporated into the creative pro...

In this episode the Creativity Crew is back and they’re here to talk about how they’re surviving the end of the school year! Candido, Raine, and Joe share their end of year challenges and how they overcome them to tackle the next school year. From changing rooms, how they’re staying creative over the summer, what to do with students during standardized testing, and giving students the opportunity...

In this episode the Creativity Department continues the discussion about Social Emotional Learning (SEL) from the perspective of the educator. Dive into a conversation about the importance of focusing on your (educator) emotional wellbeing to support that of students. Specifically, hear what taking care of your needs looks like inside and outside the classroom, discover tips on organizing and prio...

 Very rarely do students feel safe enough to open up and share how they’re feeling in the classroom. Creating learning environments where students feel supported, engaged, and ready to learn takes intention and care—and it can be challenging to build into daily instruction. In part two of this Connected Arts Network (CAN) conversation, the Creativity Department continues exploring how arts educato...

Broadly speaking, students develop essential life skills—such as confidence, self-awareness, decision-making, and collaboration—through meaningful learning experiences in the arts. In the third series of Connected Arts Network (CAN) conversations, we take a deeper look at how arts education supports these skills and helps students fully engage in their learning. As a partnership between the Nation...

In this episode, James Rees and Emily Fox King join the Creativity Department to discuss taking care of your creative practice as an art educator. James and Emily are professional artists. James is also a researcher and retired art educator.  Both bring their unique perspectives to this conversation where they share their experiences dealing with creative risk, the challenges of being a profession...

In this episode Kris Bakke joins the Creativity Department again to talk about all things related to art materials! Now with Royal Brush Manufacturing, as their Art Education Manager, Kris has new ideas to share about materials for the art room. From what is essential for teaching students to properly caring for supplies, listen in to learn new takes on the age-old question, “Why do we use this ki...

With the NAEA 2023 conference wrapped up, The Creativity Department sits down with returning guest Orlando Graves Bolaños to talk about the largest art education convention in years. Orlando was the Co-coordinator alongside Laura for this year’s conference in San Antonio, Texas. Hear about sessions they attended, what inspired them, and their take aways from San Antonio, Texas as they dive into th...

A blast from Laura’s past joins the conversation in this week’s episode! Dr. David Moya is a professor of Art Education at the University of Houston - Clear Lake. He is also a former student of Laura’s. He joins The Creativity Department in this episode to share his expertise on how to best support pre-service art teachers. As Director and Professor of the program he himself graduated from, Dr. Mo...

Elementary Art Educator Meera Ramathan joins the Creativity Department to talk about infusing literacy into the elementary art room. Using a variety of methods Meera weaves the learning of developmental skills with art, literacy, and visual literacy to create an engaging curriculum for a wide range of elementary age students. Meera shares many of the ways she teaches that literacy is not just abou...

Fiber Artist and retired Art Educator, Christine Miller joins The Creativity Department in this episode to talk about thinking and questioning! What does that mean, though? Christine shares her experiences as an art educator and the ways she nurtures her students critical thinking skills using active listening and opening them up to metacognition – thinking about your thinking. Discover how slowin...

Davis Publications Art Historian joins The Creativity Department for a new Coffee with Karl conversion about the importance of Art History in the art room! In this episode learn how Karl uses his unique position as art historian and image curator to highlight underrepresented artists, movements, and artwork in the world. Through the curriculum work he does for Davis, his Curator’s Corner blog, and...

Creating welcoming spaces for students requires deep care, concern, and attention. Considering these notions is essential to creating programs that support students at their individual levels. In this Connected Arts Networks (CAN) episode, The Creativity Department and co-host Mi’Jan Celie Tho-Biaz speak with educators Gayle Nicholls-Ali and Lindsey Baur.  Listen in to hear how Gayle and Lindsey c...

Explore the importance of creating welcoming environments for students in the second series of episodes brought to you by the Connected Arts Networks (CAN). As a partnership between The National Art Education Association (NAEA), Educational Theater Association, National Association for Music Education, National Dance Education Organization, and NYC Department of Education’s Office of Arts and Spec...

In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Kris Bakke, Vice President of the Council for Art Education and Art Education Manager for Royal Brush. Listen in to hear about how to prepare for Youth Art Month and promote your art room during it! Kris shares the most effective ways she’s seen to advocate for your program, stories about past Youth Art Months, and details the positive effect...

In this episode art educators Candido Crespo, and Joe Boatfield join The Creativity Department for a discussion about their most-loved items to use in the art room and to engage students. Get the inside scoop on their most recommended classroom tested art materials, equipment, art lessons, inspirational artists, technology and more. There’s bound to be something new to take away as you dive into t...

In this episode, returning guest Jason Blair joins the Creativity Department to talk about the disconnect teachers and students can have in the art room. Dive into the space between teaching and learning to see how we can bridge that gap by encouraging creative thinking, empathy, instilling a sense of creative confidence, and building community! Listen in for Episode resources and more.

In this episode, Art Educator Ruth Byrne talks to the Creativity Department about using manipulatives in the art room! Ruth uses the Froebel method of teaching, which nurtures activity and inquiry instead of teacher-led instruction. She shares her experiences with manipulatives in her classroom, how they help her students learn, and how you can implement them in your own art room! Listen in for re...

In this episode, returning guest James Rees and Jane Dalton, both artists and educators, join the Creativity Department to discuss how you can infuse mindfulness into your creative practices and your art room! Learn how exercises that only take two minutes can help you and students regenerate and refocus on tasks at hand. Listen all the way to the end to participate in sample exercise and discover...

In this episode The Creativity Department is joined by Misty Kluesner, a Creativity & Design Learning Experience Designer and currently working at a TK-8 design thinking school. Misty deals with technology and creativity every day - she shares resources, stories, and advice on how to incorporate technology seamlessly into your art room!

Introducing a new series focusing on Art History with Davis’s very own Image Curator and Art Historian – Karl Cole! In this episode, The Creativity Department and Karl discuss his unique career as Curator and Art Historian for Davis. Hear about what led him to art education and gather information you can use to introduce this interesting career to students.