Creativity, Innovation, & Talent Development Lab
Mission
The Creativity, Innovation, and Talent Development Lab exists to better understand and advance human flourishing via creativity, innovation, and problem solving, and to advance the science of exceptional performance and talent development. 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 and talent development.
Instructional Staff
Publications From the Team
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.
Kettler, T., Ruiz, B.N., & Spitsberg, T., (2023). What makes a creative teacher? Pedagogical Dialogue, 44(8), 2-9.
Lamb, K. N., *Boedeker, P., & Kettler, T. (2019). Inequities of identification in gifted education: A statewide application of the twenty-percent equity allowance formula. Gifted Child Quarterly, 63, 205-224. [Awarded Gifted Child Quarterly Paper of the Year]
Ruiz, B. N., Esparza, L. V., Mock, J. R., Coyle, T. R., & Golob, E. J., (2023). Creativity and attention control: An individual difference approach. Creativity Research Journal, 1-21.
Sanguras, L. Y., Kettler, T. Gibson, S., Torres, A., & Haqqi, H. (2023). Improving equity in gifted education: Analyzing the fairness of the Scales for the Identification of Gifted Students (SIGS-2). Gifted and Talented International, 38(1), 31-44.
Sodergren, C. D. C., Kettler, T. (in press). Parents of the gifted: A scoping review of the gifted parent literature. Journal for the Education of the Gifted.
Sodergren, C. D. C., Kettler, T., Sulak, T. N., & Payne, A. M. (2023). Teacher self-efficacy, innovativeness, and preparation to teach cross-curriculum skills. International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 10(1), 197-209.
Spitsberg, T. & Plucker, J.A. (2023). Boys and the Humanities: Making the Twain Meet. Kappan.
Grants
Kettler, T. K. (Principal Investigator), Sodergren, C. D. C. & Boschen, M. (Project Personnel). (2022-2023). Curriculum Standards for Gifted and Talented Programming Grades 1-6: Expanding Opportunities in Advanced Academics (Project EXPO) [Grant]. Waco Independent School District, Department of Advanced Academics.
Torres, D. K. (Principal Investigator), (2022-2025). Jacob K. Javits Federal Grant (Austin ISD NAVIGATES) [Grant]. Austin Independent School District, Advanced Academics Department.
International Presentations
Fillipini, T. & Hulsey, D. B. (September 2023). Creativity in Education and Museums: Partnerships in Formal and Informal Learning. [Conference session]. Marconi Institute for Creativity Conference 2023, Trieste, Italy.
Hulsey, D. B. (September 2023). Cultivating Creativity, Innovation Thinking, and Resilience in Young Students by Teaching Entrepreneurship. [Conference session]. Marconi Institute for Creativity Conference, University of Trieste, Italy.
Hulsey, D. B. (September 2023). Cognitive and Creative Benefits of Lightening Up: Using Positive Humor in Education. [Conference session]. Marconi Institute for Creativity Conference, Trieste, Italy.
Hulsey, D. B. (August 2023). Cultivating Creativity and Resilience in Young Students by Teaching Entrepreneurship. [Conference 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. [Conference session]. Marconi Institute of Creativity, Trieste, Italy.
Sodergren, C. D. C., Kettler, T., Sulak, T.N. (2022). Academic self-concepts and socio-emotional factors in gifted identified children & adolescents. [Conference session]. International Academic Forum (IAFOR), Paris, France.
National Presentations
Kettler, T., Raymond, C., Ruiz, B. N., & Spitsberg, T. (2024, April 10-14). Assessment of potential in a talent development framework: Examining psychological variables related to achievement. [Poster presentation]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Hulsey, D. B. & Batan-Karaduman, G. (Nov. 2022). Cultivate Young Entrepreneurs by Tapping into Creativity, Openness, and Cognitive Ability. [Conference session]. 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]. 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. [Conference session]. National Association for Gifted Children Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
Hulsey, D. B. (Nov. 2021). What About Prom? Exploring Acceleration Options in Gifted Education. [Conference session]. 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]. National Association for Gifted Children Annual Conference, Denver, CO.
Ruiz, B. N., (2022). Parental Burnout Among Parents of Gifted Children. [Poster presentation]. 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. [Poster presentation]. National Association of Gifted Children, Orlando, FL.
Torres, D. K. (2023). Talent Development: A Path Towards Equitable Gifted Programs. [Conference session]. National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Conference, Orlando, FL.
Torres, D. K. (2023). Calculating and Monitoring Equity Representation in GT Programs. [Conference session]. National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Conference, Orlando, FL.
Sodergren, C. D. C. (2023). Entrepreneurial self-efficacy and change agency in gifted coordinators: A mixed methods study. [Poster presentation]. National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Conference, Orlando, FL.
State & Regional Presentations
Ruiz, B. N. & Spitsberg, T., (2023). Teacher Beliefs about Creativity, Creative Students, and Creative Pedagogy: Current Research and a Theoretical Model. [Conference session]. Presented at Creativity and Education Symposium. Virtual
Torres, D. K., Haygood, B., & Sanchez, A. (2022). #WhyGT: A Storytelling Session. [Conference session]. Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT) Conference, Houston, TX.
Torres, D. K. & Severance, E. (2023). Measuring Equity: GT Data Gathering and Calculations Explained. [Conference session]. Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT) Leadership Conference, Fort Worth, TX.
Torres, D. K. & Haygood, B. (2023). Tapping into Talent Development. [Conference session]. Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT) Leadership Conference, Fort Worth, TX.