Todd Cowden

Personal Details

Bio

Todd has spent his life centered around creativity. With over 20 years as a creative professional, he's worked on award-winning projects for companies such as Microsoft, LEGO, National Geographic, and Universal Pictures. He's even had a hand in helping illusionist David Copperfield create the impossible.

His career has spanned traditional advertising, interactive design, web design, as well as game design. Now he teaches career tech classes (and creativity) to high school students.

Current position (2)

Creative Expert

ToddWorld

Career Tech Teacher

Lausanne Collegiate School

Degrees (1)

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Communication Design

University of North Texas

1991 to 1993

Presentations

Presentations (3)

The Power of Genius Hour

What happens when you give students one hour a week to follow their passions? They call the shots. They are in charge of what and how they are learning, and what they are going to present.

Each year I run a Genius Hour in my class and it has been a huge success. Students are engaged, creative, and many times, inspiring.

The difference isn’t in the TYPE of learning, it’s the REASON.

Redefining Creativity

In the current job market, “creativity” is one of the most highly sought after qualities. What better way to be prepared for the problems of tomorrow than to build your creative confidence today.

Join us as we bust age-old myths about creativity in order to have a better understanding of what creativity means in this day and age.

We’ll examine a new definition for “creativity”, one that includes virtually everyone. We’ll review different types of creativity from the traditional “artistic” to “mathematical”; from “auditory” to “kinesthetic”.

S.O.L.V.E. Problems Creatively

Join us as we learn how to S.O.L.V.E. problems creatively. This is a method best used for overcoming small, every day, sometimes urgent, obstacles. With each tiny victory, students will build their creative confidence to solve larger problems, with the hope that one day they will consider nothing impossible.

We’ll take a look at some student examples, used in and out of school, that illustrate this type of creative thinking. Participants may even take on a challenge themselves when they will be presented with a problem they must overcome using only their creativity and the items in the environment around them.

Past talks (9)

S.O.L.V.E. Your Own Problems

LLI Southwest

Arlington, TX

February 21, 2019

Creativity Exercises That Build Connections

LLI Southwest

Arlington, TX

February 22, 2019

Creativity Exercises That Build Connections

LLI Mississippi

Madison, MS

November 29, 2018

The Power of Genius Hour

Region 10 Fine Arts Summit

Richardson, TX

June 8, 2019

Designing Your Creative Space

Region 10 Fine Arts Summit

Richardson, TX

June 8, 2019

Redefining Creativity

OpporUNITY 2019

Celina, TX

June 18, 2019

Student Companies: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

OpporUNITY 2019

Celina, TX

June 19, 2019

Student Companies: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

CTE Summer Institute

Rockwall, TX

June 25, 2019

Evolving the Digital Portfolio

CTE Summer Institute

Rockwall, TX

June 25, 2019

After summer vacation this was the session/workshop I attended that has stuck with me and made me think all summer. Looking forward to trying to implement some of this into my classroom.

Michael Crawford

Personal Details

Presentations

Books & Articles (2)

Expertise (8)

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