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Bridging Creativity and AI in K–12 Education: Insights from FETC 2025
AI’s role in education is growing, and its potential to democratize creativity is undeniable.
Date of writing
January 19, 2025
Time of reading
2 minutes
Artificial intelligence (AI) is often met with mixed reactions, particularly in creative fields. At the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) 2025 in Orlando, Tim Needles, an art teacher and technology integration specialist from Smithtown Central School District in New York, shared how he navigates this balance, as outlined in EdTech Magazine. While educators and ed-tech communities celebrate his AI art projects, artists sometimes criticize them.
Needles views AI not as a threat but as a tool. “This is just a tool, and you’re silly not to utilize whatever tool you have,” he said. His session, “The Intersection of Creativity and Artificial Intelligence,” highlighted how AI can transform both teaching and learning, making creativity more accessible and redefining how students engage with art and ideas.
Creativity often feels out of reach for those who don't consider themselves artistic. However, as Needles emphasized, creativity isn’t confined to traditional art forms like drawing or painting—it’s about innovative thinking. AI can empower individuals by lowering the barriers to entry.
“Any job can be creative. AI democratizes the ability to be creative,” Needles explained.
In the classroom, AI helps students who may not excel in conventional assessments express themselves. Needles described two successful Adobe Express projects with his students:
For AI to thrive in education, educators must overcome their apprehensions. Needles shared how he worked with reluctant colleagues by encouraging experimentation and play before focusing on educational applications.
“One of the biggest things with creativity is that if you have any sense of judgment, you can’t really be creative,” he said. Creating a nonjudgmental environment was key to helping both teachers and students take risks with new tools.
To build trust, Needles leads by example—whether it’s generating AI-driven walkup music for a keynote or showcasing his own bobblehead image in class.
AI’s role in education is growing, and its potential to democratize creativity is undeniable. By embracing these tools with openness and curiosity, educators can foster innovation and engagement in their classrooms.
Needles views AI not as a threat but as a tool. “This is just a tool, and you’re silly not to utilize whatever tool you have,” he said. His session, “The Intersection of Creativity and Artificial Intelligence,” highlighted how AI can transform both teaching and learning, making creativity more accessible and redefining how students engage with art and ideas.
Creativity often feels out of reach for those who don't consider themselves artistic. However, as Needles emphasized, creativity isn’t confined to traditional art forms like drawing or painting—it’s about innovative thinking. AI can empower individuals by lowering the barriers to entry.
“Any job can be creative. AI democratizes the ability to be creative,” Needles explained.
In the classroom, AI helps students who may not excel in conventional assessments express themselves. Needles described two successful Adobe Express projects with his students:
- Animating from Audio:
- Teaching students to animate audio using Adobe Express proved to be an engaging way to gauge lesson retention. Animation resonated with students of all ages, from kindergarteners to college learners.
- Personalized Art Projects:
- A project to create bobblehead-style self-portraits allowed Needles to learn about his students’ interests while fostering creativity. This activity also introduced students to the importance of AI prompting—a critical skill as the technology evolves.
For AI to thrive in education, educators must overcome their apprehensions. Needles shared how he worked with reluctant colleagues by encouraging experimentation and play before focusing on educational applications.
“One of the biggest things with creativity is that if you have any sense of judgment, you can’t really be creative,” he said. Creating a nonjudgmental environment was key to helping both teachers and students take risks with new tools.
To build trust, Needles leads by example—whether it’s generating AI-driven walkup music for a keynote or showcasing his own bobblehead image in class.
AI’s role in education is growing, and its potential to democratize creativity is undeniable. By embracing these tools with openness and curiosity, educators can foster innovation and engagement in their classrooms.