Creativity & Innovation Lab

Todd Kettler, P.h.D.
Principal Investigator, Research Lab Director
Todd Kettler, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology in the School of Education at Baylor University. He teaches courses in gifted education and talent development, creativity, and the history and systems of psychology with educational applications. Dr. Kettler conducts research on access to advanced academic learning opportunities in schools, including access to gifted education. He studies the features of learning designs that support outcomes of exceptional performance including the development of critical thinking and creative capacity. 

Mission

The Creativity and Innovation Lab exists to better understand and advance human flourishing via creativity, innovation, and problem solving. Our research team conceptualizes and operationalizes the creative work of the present and future, and seeks to encourage and nurture productive synthesis with extant scholarship and practices in talent development and beyond. The lab is committed to generating world class, global-scope research, and disseminating high-quality innovations, pedagogies, and best practices in and around creativity.

Donna Hulsey
Doctoral Student
Donna Hulsey is a doctoral student in the Department of Educational Psychology studying gifted and talented education. 
Carol Raymond
Doctoral Student
Carol Raymond is a Ph.D. student at Baylor University in School Psychology. Carol’s eclectic educational background includes bachelor’s degrees in Music Performance and Music Education, a master’s degree in Gifted Education, an Educational Diagnostician certification, and a Certificate in College Counseling. Previously, Carol served as the Director of Assessment and College Advising at E.A. Young Academy where she developed the school’s talent development program and taught courses such as AP Research, AP Seminar, and Applied Research and Statistics. As a private consultant, Carol provides psychoeducational assessment, college/career consulting, personalized tutoring, and parent/educator training. Carol’s current research focuses on the intersection of creativity and religion. She is also interested in exploring machine-learning applications within academic assessments and interventions.
Beatrice Ruiz
Doctoral Student
Beatrice Ruiz is the research coordinator for the Center of Gifted Education and Talent Development. She is a doctoral student at Baylor University pursuing her PhD in educational psychology. Her research interest is in professional level creative achievement and talent development. 
Tim Spitsberg
Doctoral Student
Tim Spitsberg, M.S.Ed., is a research assistant in the Creativity and Innovation Lab at Baylor University’s School of Education. He specifically studies talent development in humanities fields and the intersection of creativity, wisdom, and critical thinking. 

Publications From Our Creativity Lab Team Members

Hulsey, D. B., Moten, T. R., Hebda, M. R., Sulak, T. N., & Bagby, J. H. (2023). Using behavioral engagement measures of multiple learning profiles to recognize twice- exceptional students. Gifted Child Today 46(1), 13-24. https://10.1177/10762175221131055

Hulsey, D. B. (2008). Living the dream: Creating and growing a school for gifted students. TEMPO, Journal of the Texas Association of Gifted and Talented, 37(3).

Ruiz, B. N., Esparza, L. V., Mock, J. R., Coyle, T. R., & Golob, E. J., (in press). Creativity and Attention: An Individual Differences Approach. Creativity Research Journal.

Spitsberg, T. & Plucker, J.A. (2023). Boys and the Humanities: Making the Twain Meet. Kappan.  https://doi.org/10.1177/00317217231168257

International Presentations 

Fillipini, T. & Hulsey, D. B. (September 2023). Creativity in Education and Museums: Partnerships in Formal and Informal Learning. Marconi Institute for Creativity Conference 2023, University of Trieste, Italy.

Hulsey, D. B. (Nov. 2009). Living the Dream: Creating and Growing a School for Gifted Learners. Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE), Canberra, Australia.

Hulsey, D. B. (June 2015). No Limits: How Differentiated, Customized, Hands-on Instruction Inspires Creativity and Entrepreneurship in Young Learners. 15th International Conference on Technology, Policy, and Innovation (ICTPI) at Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.

Hulsey, D. B. (September 2023). Cultivating Creativity, Innovation Thinking, and Resilience in Young Students by Teaching Entrepreneurship. Marconi Institute for Creativity Conference 2023, University of Trieste, Italy.

Hulsey, D. B. (September 2023). Cognitive and Creative Benefits of Lightening Up: Using Positive Humor in Education. Marconi Institute for Creativity Conference 2023, University of Trieste, Italy.

Hulsey, D. B. (August 2023). Cultivating Creativity and Resilience in Young Students by Teaching Entrepreneurship. On-demand session. World Conference on Gifted and Talented Children. Virtual conference.

Ruiz, B. N. & Spitsberg, T., (2023). Teacher Beliefs about Creativity and Creative Pedagogy: A Systematic Review. Presented at Marconi Institute of Creativity.  Trieste, Italy. 

National Presentations 

Hulsey, D. B. (December 2011). The Value of an Idea: Teaching Invention, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. Invited Speaker Series, Innovation, Creativity, & Commerce (IC2) Institute, University of Texas, Austin, TX.

Hulsey, D. B. & Batan-Karaduman, G. (Nov. 2022). Cultivate Young Entrepreneurs by Tapping into Creativity, Openness, and Cognitive Ability. National Association for Gifted Children Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Hulsey, D. B. (Nov. 2022). Three Gifted Kids Walk into a Classroom: A Strengths-Based Approach To Optimizing Humor Ability in Students. Poster presentation at the National Association for Gifted Children Annual Conference (NAGC), Indianapolis, IN.

Hulsey, D. B. & Filippini, T. (Nov. 2022). Cognitive and Creative Benefits of Lightening Up: Using Positive Humor in Gifted Education. National Association for Gifted Children Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Hulsey, D. B. (Nov. 2021). What About Prom? Exploring Acceleration Options in Gifted Education. National Association for Gifted Children Annual Conference, Denver, CO.

Hulsey, D. B. (Nov. 2021). Game Changers: Key Elements of a Strengths-Based, Talent- Focused Approach to Foster Positive Self-Concept in 2e Learners. Poster presentation at the National Association for Gifted Children Annual Conference, Denver, CO.

Hulsey, D. B. (Nov. 2013). Navigating Needs and Politics: How to Start and Grow a Private Program for Gifted Learners. National Association for Gifted Children Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Hulsey, D. B. (Nov. 2010). Creating and Growing a School for Gifted Learners. National Association for Gifted Children Annual Conference Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.

Ruiz, B. N., (2022). Parental Burnout Among Parents of Gifted Children. Presented at National Association of Gifted Children. Indianapolis, IN. 

Ruiz, B. N., (2023). Teacher’s Beliefs about Creativity and Teaching for Creativity: an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach. Presented at National Association of Gifted Children. Orlando, FL.

State & Regional Presentations

Hulsey, D. B. (Dec. 2020). Advocating for Your Gifted Child: Finding Best Fit at School, in Community, and Within Family. Texas Association for Gifted and Talented Annual Conference (virtual conference).

Hulsey, D. B. & Langdon, K. S. (Dec. 2012). The ‘G’ Word: The Impact of Definitions. Texas Association for Gifted and Talented Annual Conference, Dallas, TX.

Hulsey, D. B. (Jan. 2010). Superheroes, Visionaries, and Geeks: Helping Gifted Children Find Role Models in Media. Texas Association for Gifted and Talented Parent Conference, Round Rock, TX.

Hulsey, D. B. & Langdon, K. S. (Dec 2008). Living the Dream: Creating and Growing a School for Gifted Students. Texas Association for Gifted and Talented Annual Conference, Austin, TX.

Ruiz, B. N., (2022). A streamlined rubric for scoring the alternative use task. Presented at Creativity and Education Symposium. Waco, TX. 

Ruiz, B. N., Esparza, L. V., Mock, J. R., Coyle, T. R., & Golob, E. J., (2022). Creativity and Attention: An Individual Differences Approach. Presented at Armadillo. Stephenville, TX.

Ruiz, B. N. & Spitsberg, T., (2023). Teacher Beliefs about Creativity, Creative Students, and Creative Pedagogy: Current Research and a Theoretical Model. Presented at Creativity and Education Symposium. Virtual 

Ruiz, B. N., (2023). How Well Do Educators Understand Creativity? Presented at Baylor Emerging Research Conference. Virtual. 

Sulak, T. N., Bagby, J. H., Robins, J. H., Hulsey, D. B., Moten, T., & Pathanjaly, H. (2021, February 3-5). Behavioral Engagement of Students with Different Learning Needs (Conference presentation). 44th Annual Southwest Educational Research Association (SERA) Virtual Conference.

 

Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development

School of Education

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