Honorable Educator: Dr. Donald Treffinger

University of Buff alo,

Advanced Graduate

Cert ifi cate: Gifted

Education—Online

September 2011

PRESENTED BY ANDREA YAWMAN

A rock is something stable, fi rm and dependable. Treffi nger’s work spans 50+ years. His work builds on others before him.

A rock can act as a foundation. Treffi nger is referenced numerous times in other

researchers’ work. Prolific author and collaborator.

A rock can yield untold riches and beauty. Creativity is one of Treffi nger’s main focuses. Creative

minds can yield untold riches and beauty.

WHY A ROCK?

DR. TREFFINGER’S BACKGROUND:STEPPING STONES ON HIS CAREER

PATH

Background

Born March 9, 1941Attended public schools in Buff alo, NYBS in Sociology, 1961 from Buff alo State CollegeMS, PhD in Educational Psychology from Cornell

UniversityTaught at the elementary, junior high and university

levelsProfessor at Purdue University, University of Kansas

and Buff alo State CollegeCurrently president of the Center for Creative

Learning, Inc. in Sarasota, Florida

STEPPING STONES ON DR. TREFFINGER’S CAREER PATH

NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:GEMSTONES OF DR. TREFFINGER’S

CAREER

Distinguished Service Award, NAGC—1984E. Paul Torrance Creativity Award, NAGC—1995Risorgimento Award for contribution to creativity,

Destination ImagiNation—2005Creativity Research Award, World Council on Gifted and

Talented Children—2005Honorary Doctor of Laws degree, University of Winnipeg

—2009 At the 2011 NAGC annual convention, The Legacy

Series will tape “The Creative Voice of Don Treffi nger.” The Legacy Series creates a permanent record in image and voice of individuals who have dedicated themselves to most able learners.

GEMSTONES OF CAREER

DR. TREFFINGER’S PRESENCE IN THE FIELD

Dr. Treffi nger is known in the field for: Assessing and nurturing creativity Creative Problem Solving Talent Development, specifically the Levels of Service

ApproachHe has authored or co-authored 60 books and

monographs; written or co-written more than 350 articles

Member of the Gifted Child Quarterly Editorial Advisory Board

PRESENCE IN THE FIELD

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:CONTRIBUTIONS TO MANY LAYERS

OF RESEARCH

Creativity must be nurtured to help people deal with change; it’s a “must have” 21 st century skill.Non-debatable: we can teach people to be creative.Old question: How creative are you? New question: How are you creative?Other new questions:

What works best for whom, under what conditions? How do we differentiate? How do we personalize?

There is no “one way” to assess creativity

1. ASSESSING AND NURTURING CREATIVITY

Developed in 1950’s by Alex Osborn

Has changed from linear/sequential steps into a fl exible/dynamic process

This fl exibility has helped to expand the power of CPS; start the process where you need to; revisit parts of the process

2. CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

1. UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY/CHALLENGE Mess Finding

look for many messes and articulate a broad, brief, beneficial goal, then choose which mess to work on

Data Finding look at the mess from many points of view using sources of data; decide what

part of data demonstrates the heart of the mess Problem Finding

invite ideas free of criteria; then find a way to best state the problem: “How might we do something to achieve our goal?”

2. GENERATE IDEAS Idea Finding

invite varied, unusual, unique possibilities; then choose ideas that seem to have the most appeal

3. PREPARING FOR ACTION Solution Finding

make good ideas into the best solutions using specific criteria: Cost, Acceptance, Resources, Time, Space

Acceptance Finding create a plan of action to bridge solutions to actions

CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING CONTINUED

Level of Service ApproachAn inclusive

approach, recognizing that significant talent can be missed when gifted programs rely on cut-off scores

3. TALENT DEVELOPMENT

HOW HIS RESEARCH TWEAKED MY BRAIN:DISCOVERING RICHES IN THE RESEARCH

DISCOVERING RICHES IN THE RESEARCH

1. Creativity• Previously I thought of people as being creative or not. • We can teach creativity—powerful notion!

2. Creative Problem Solving• Powerful, dynamic• Can be used in so many situations: school, business, home,

relationships• A crucial life skill—let’s teach this instead of busy work and test

prep!

3. Talent Development• This speaks to my inner conviction that as teachers we need to

bring out the best in everyone—the struggling student, the on-grade-level student, the gifted student.

• Treffinger’s Level of Services Approach addresses the dilemma of using a cut-off test score for inclusion in gifted programs.

• The Level of Services Approach also embodies Dr. Callard-Szulgit’s quote, “What works for gifted, works for all;” all students are part of the model.

WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO SEE DR. TREFFINGER DO NEXT?

It’s time to form an educational system that makes sense for all children. Let’s create a system where all children actually learn as deeply and fully as possible.

Put together a “dream team” to mesh their ideas and create a Symposium by Skype

This “dream team” would reach out to lawmakers and policymakers across the country

Possible team members and their roles: Dr. Treffi nger: What is really important for the 21 st century? Creativity! Carol Tomlinson: Differentiation is a must for all classrooms; what would

this look like and how can we make it happen? Ellen Winner: Advocate for the gifted and for elevating the level of

instruction for all A Testing Expert: Describe what tests can and cannot do; why our focus

needs to change An Economic Guru: Let’s make decisions that truly support learning and

show how proper decisions can save money; let’s choose to allocate our money so that it supports LEARNING; do not distribute just to certain states/districts that can jump through the current hoops

THE DREAM FOR THE FUTURE

ROCK ON, DR. TREFFINGER!

Davis , G.A. , R imm, S . B. , S ieg le , D. (2011) . Educat ion of the Gi f ted and Ta lented, 6 t h ed it ion . Boston: Pearson.

Dr. Donald J . Treffi nger: Introduct ion to Creat ive Problem Solv ing [v ideo] . (1993) (Ava i lab le f rom GCT Inc. , PO Box 6448, Mobi le AL 36660-0448)

Green, N. ( June 2009) . An Interview with Dr. Don Treffi nger: More Than Cupcakes: Support ing Your Chi ld ’s Creat ive Potent ia l . Retr ieved f rom http: / /www.nagc.org/php_june09/web/ Interview_fi les/ Interview.pdf Henshon, S .E. , (March 22, 2006) . Creat ive explorat ion: an interview with Don Treffi nger. Retr ieved f rom http: / /www.thefree l ibrary.com/Creat ive+explorat ion%3A+an+interview+with+Don+Treffinger

Treffi nger, D. J . , ed. (2004) . Creat iv i ty and Gif tedness . Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Treffi nger, D. J . Ta lents and Gi fts : The Levels of Service (LoS) Approach. Retr ieved f rom http: / /creat ive learn ing.com/ta lent-development/about- los .html

Treffi nger, D. J . (August 23, 2011) . The Exc it ing New Chal lenge of Ta lents . Retr ieved f rom http: / /creat ive learn ing.com/component/easyblog/entry/the-exci t ing-new-chal lenge-of- ta lents .html

RESOURCES