Creative Thinking & Learning Studio

“It made me reflect on how revolutionary the activities young children naturally engage in can be for adults to engage and participate in.”

Studio participant

A place for transdisciplinary

• Thinking

• Making

• Doing

and

• Playing with Possibilities

I developed the concept and designed the space for the Creative Thinking & Learning Studio in spring 2021 with the support of Greenfield Community College. It serves students and faculty at GCC as well as hosts workshops and seminars for community partners. 

The studio is a space to practice embodied learning, where the body, mind, environment, and materials are integrated into the learning process.

The space and purpose of the studio is influenced by the ateliers of Reggio Emilia, the environment as a teacher, thinking with materials, and the Remida project.

I offer workshops in the CTL studio on the practices of curiosity, play, divergent thinking, big ideas, loose parts and the languages of materials.

This includes:

• interdisciplinary explorations 

• playing with ideas 

• engaging with different kinds of materials & tools 

• representing abstract ideas in order to better understand them  

• making connections

• making thinking visible to ourselves and others in new, different, and unusual ways  

• pushing our brains into activating new ways of thinking and questioning things

• playing together with curiosity and joy

• stimulating creative and divergent thinking 
  

“I loved being in the creative thinking studio. I spent many hours in classrooms through my 35 years on earth, I have never been in a classroom that immersive. So much of my education was reading a book followed with an assignment. Being able to just go around and play was an amazing experience. My favorite sensory experience was laying down under the falling hole punch paper with the wind tube. It was truly magical. I think all students have to experience the creative learning studio at least once no matter what their major or focus is. All of my classes at GCC were online, I am so grateful to have been able to go to campus and visit that classroom!! Thank you for allowing me into the space I have never had an experience like that before.”

‍ Brett Keating, GCC Education Student‍

“What will stay with me after this course ends is the understanding that learning happens best when there is room for curiosity, mistakes, and patience. I will remember how important it is to give myself, and future students, the space to explore materials, rethink ideas, and grow through hands-on experiences.”

Creativity, Thinking & Learning Course Student