On this page, you will find information about our custom CPS Workshops, our consulting services, and our information support services (through which we help our clients stay abreast of the latest developments in creativity, CPS, talent development, and learning styles). Free PDF on our Services.

The Center for Creative Learning's 2008 Summer Professional Development Institute will focus on Creative Problem Solving (CPS).

Click here to download this information in PDF format: 2008Summer.pdf

Creative Problem Solving (CPS) in Education
July 16-18, 2008

Recently published reports, such as those of the National Center on Education and the Economy’s New Commission on the Skills or the American Workforce, highlight the vital role of creativity, innovation, problem solving, and teamwork in educating today’s students for the challenges of success in the world workplace of the future.

As highlighted in the NCEE Commissioned Paper, "Sources of Innovation and Creativity: A Summary of Research" (read or download the report at: www.skillscommission.org), our Creative Problem Solving framework — CPS Version 6.1™ — provides a powerful, practical set of tools and resources to help individuals and teams learn and apply creative and critical thinking, solve problems, manage change, and build effective teams.

The CPS framework builds on more than five decades of research, development, and practical applications. CPS has been applied successfully in businesses, schools, churches, and other organizations worldwide. Educators can apply CPS Version 6.1™ in many important ways. For example, you cam use CPS to:

• Guide planning for student success and positive gains in achievement.
• Support leadership and teamwork in projects (for both adults and students).
• Enhance curriculum development and empower individuals and teams to deal with real-life problems and challenges.
• Expand and enhance life skills and career planning and counseling activities—provide students the essential tools they will need for success in the workplace of tomorrow.
• Provide powerful thinking and problem-solving tools that link creative and critical thinking with academic content standards.
• Support and empower school advisory teams, site-based management, and school improvement or strategic planning efforts.
• Guide teams or groups in planning new programs or revising existing programs in any area.

This Institute will provide you with training and hands-on practice on Understanding the Challenge, Generating Ideas, Preparing for Action, and Planning Your Approach — with a variety of specific tools for generating options, focusing your thinking, and planning for successful implementation of new ideas.

You will also receive follow-up coaching and support for CPS implementation (two phone or email consultations with an Institute staff member for each participant). You will return home with a wide variety of skills and tools that you can use on your own, when you are working with students of all ages in a classroom or training setting, or when you are working with other adults to solve problems, plan new projects or programs, or manage change.

You will receive an extensive set of supporting materials and handouts, books, and CD-based reproducible resources, to enable you to incorporate CPS in any educational setting. You will also receive an assessment of your personal problem solving style preferences.

Individual participants are welcome, but we also encourage teams to attend from the same school or school district. Team participation helps to build a foundation for follow-up implementation.

The 2008 Institute will begin at 9:00 AM. on Wednesday, July 16, and close at 3:00 PM on Friday, July 18.

Registration Information

The Institute will be held at a hotel in Sarasota, Florida. We will arrange for special room rates for Institute participants; you will receive specific information with your registration confirmation packet. Sarasota is located on the Gulf of Mexico (on the west coast of Florida), about 60 miles south of Tampa and approximately two hours southwest of Orlando.

The number of places is limited, so we recommend early registration. Late enrollments will be accepted subject to space availability. To register, complete the registration for below and send it, with your payment, to: Center for Creative Learning, 4921 Ringwood Meadow, Sarasota, FL 34235 USA. To register by phone, call 941.342.9928, or fax the information to 941.342.0064, or email us at: Info@CreativeLearning.com

We accept school or state purchase orders, checks, MasterCard, VISA, and American Express. All fees are stated in U.S. Funds, and payments must be made in U.S. Dollars. Pre-payment is required. The registration fee includes: program fees, course textbooks and handout materials, three continental breakfasts, refreshments at daily breaks, three luncheons, and follow-up with the Institute Staff (two phone or email consultations per participant). The registration fee is $550.00. For teams of two or three participants registering together, the fee is $525.00 per person, and for teams of four or more, the fee is $500.00 per person.

Cancellation Policy. If a registered participant is unable to attend a program, you may substitute another person. We do request as much advance notice as possible for any substitutions. If any participant must cancel his/her registration, and we receive and approve notification of the cancellation at least one week prior to the first day of the program, we will issue a full refund. If we receive the written notification less than one week, but at least two business days before the first day of the program, there will be a $50.00 processing fee. For cancellations received with less than two business days’ advance notice, no cash refunds will be given, but you will receive full credit towards enrollment in any future CCL program within 12 months after the cancellation. Cancellations without notice (i.e., “no shows”) will not receive any refund or credit.

Registration Form

Creative Problem Solving Workshops ...
The Center for Creative Learning now offers a new two-day Contemporary Approaches to Creative Problem Solving workshop. This program provides a practical, "hands-on" introduction to the CPS framework. The Workshop involves two days of high-intensity instruction, from 9:00 AM until 4:30 PM. The program includes an assessment of your creative style, instruction in CPS methods and tools, and structured individual and small group CPS practice. Upon completion of the workshop, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. You will learn... An introduction to CPS tools, with a focus on practical applications; Your problem solving style preferences, and how to use them to work and collaborate effectively; Two basic attitudes-the foundations for better thinking- why they're both important, and how to use them individually and with groups; Four proven, practical tools to help you generate new and original options; Four proven, practical tools to help you to analyze and refine options; an overview of the components of Creative Problem Solving-and how to use them to your advantage, whether you are working alone or in a group; Practical ways to make style and powerful thinking tools work together for continuous improvement, innovation, and managing change.

There are many important benefits for participants in this workshop; they include: Increase your ability to create fresh new possibilities and to use thinking tools to generate more and better options; Increase your ability to move "good possibilities" into real action and success; Discover new ways for people (of all ages) to work together more effectively and productively, and to find and build upon each person's unique strengths and style; Learn to use a practical, powerful process for dealing effectively with many different kinds of problems, challenges, and opportunities; Identify specific ways to apply CPS in your own personal or organizational setting; Educators- learn specific ways to apply these powerful tools when working with students (at any grade level and in all content areas) and when working with adults!

CONTACT THE CENTER FOR THE CURRENT WORKSHOP SCHEDULE, COST, AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION.

The Contemporary Approaches to CPS Workshop can be offered on a "custom-designed" basis for your group, in Sarasota, at your site, or at another location of your choice. Contact us for details! Free PDF On Custom Workshops.

Consulting Services ...

Our staff members are available to provide a variety of consulting services to assist you in planning, implementing, or evaluating programming for productive thinking, creative learning and Creative Problem Solving, learning styles, or talent development in your organization. We will confer with you, create a complete proposal for services to meet your unique needs, and work closely with you to carry out our collaborative plan. We can provide: Keynote presentations and brief presentations at regional, state or province, national, or international conferences; Workshops or In-Service Presentations for a full day; "Consultants in residence," who work with your organization at your site for an intensive period from one week through year-long involvement; In-depth working sessions for your group in Sarasota, or at your site; Program audits and reviews; Program evaluations; Support and facilitation for long-range or strategic planning; Problem-solving or idea development sessions to help work on your group's opportunities and challenges; Development or modification of program guidelines, curriculum, or assessment plans linked to thinking skills, learning styles, and/or talent development. For additional information about any of these services, you can download a free Information Packet (in PDF format, using Adobe's Acrobat Reader). Free PDFs

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Center for Creative Learning, Inc.
4921 Ringwood Meadow
Sarasota, Florida, USA 34235
Phone: 941.342.9928 - Fax: 941.342.0064

E-mail: Info@CreativeLearning.com

Copyright © 2007 Center for Creative Learning, Inc.