Graduate student's magic sparks creativity
Tong Li, a Ph.D. candidate in the College of Education’s learning, design, and technology program, combines his love of magic with teaching.
Li is from Shandong, China, and visited the U.S. through a study abroad program at Central Connecticut State University. There, he worked as a teaching assistant at a local elementary school where students were learning about gravity. Using his magic skills, he simulated an environment without gravity by suspending a table in the air. The students were immediately engaged.
“I use magic tricks as a way to inspire students to learn how to think outside of the box, how magicians create amazing and touching moments for their audience, and how to incorporate the principles of magic into their design process,” he said. “It encourages them to be creative and make the impossible things possible.”