Creativity and Problem Solving

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Creativity andProblem Solving
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Creative Thinking Why??

• What are the values of creative thinking? (see
  pp. 10-11)
• Which do you find most motivating?

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Creative Thinking What??

• Original (New)
• Original as in "novel" as opposed to "something
  new brought forth out of nothing."
• New perspectives and combinations of the same old
  stuff!

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Creative Thinking What??

• Relevant (Useful)
• All creative thinking is original, but not all
  original thinking is creative.
• Creativity is goal-directed originality.
• Have you ever thought, "Cool! But what can you DO
  with it?"

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Creative Thinking What??

• Lateral (Divergent)
• Differs from the typical focus on convergent
  thinking (linear evaluative).
• Requires you to go outside of the boundaries.
• Focuses on generating rather than developing
  ideas.
• Self-reflexive constantly engaged in "thinking
  about thinking."

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Give it a Try!
Connect all nine of these dots using four
straight continuous lines. There can be no breaks
between your lines, you may not reverse draw
back over an existing line, and once you put your
pencil or pen on the paper you cannot pick it up
until you are completed.
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Are You Self-Reflexive?

• Complete the sequence
• O T T F F S S E N __
• Dont forget to think about your thinking!

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Creative Thinking What??

• Creative Thinking
• Generative

Critical Thinking Evaluative
Effective Problem Solving
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Creative Thinking How??

• Innate or learned?
• See Alex Osborne quote on p. iv.
• Assisted by creativity enhancing tools
  (Brainstorms, see list on pp. ix-x).
• Vary in sophistication and detail.
• Some take more time and resources and some less.
• Choose strategies as they apply to specific goals
  and situations.

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Creative Thinking Who??

• For the few or the many?
• Peak creativity Major creative efforts and
  outcomes.
• Not everyone has this sort of experience.
• Extent of involvement A quality of the ordinary
  problem solving processes uses in tackling
  everyday issues.
• Everyone can apply these qualities.

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Ordinary Problem Solving Leading to Creative
Outcomes

• Extensive preparation
• Extended effort
• Tolerance for ambiguity
• But not "preference" for ambiguity
• Calculated risk taking
• But not "reckless" risk taking

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Characteristics of the Creative Thinking
Individual

• Noncomformist
• Independent
• Confident
• Curious
• Persistent

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Characteristics of the Creative Thinking Mind

• Fluency Number of different ideas
• Flexibility Variety in ideas
• Originality Uniqueness of ideas
• Elaboration Detail offered in ideas
• Association Depth/complexity of idea system

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Creative Thinking Who??
What can we learn from creative individuals
throughout history?
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Creative Thinking Who??

• Quality is a function of quantity.
• Role models are important in creative
  development.
• Creative achievement has a snowballing effect.
• Develop networks of enterprise (a variety of
  different but related projects to allow creative
  effort to continue if one should result in an
  impasse).
• Establish clear, long-range goals and plans.
• Break major projects into subtasks.

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Creative Thinking Process

• Examine on pp. 20-25
• How does it differ from the Reflective Thinking
  Process as we have covered it?
• Consider Isaac Asimov comment on p. 21.
• Can you think of a time when "incubation" helped
  you in a creative venture?

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Creative Thinking General Guidelines

• Work to acquire information
• Read with variety and voracity.
• Interact broadly, especially with other creatives.

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Creative Thinking General Guidelines

• Spend time and energy thinking about the problems
  you face
• Recognize and avoid perceptual filters (be
  self-reflexive).
• Massage them ideas!!
• Physical and psychological change is a good thing.

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Creative Thinking General Guidelines

• Respect your ideas
• Record them!
• Organize them!
• Respect enough to expect!!

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Creative Thinking General Guidelines

• Think like a creative
• That means "like you are a..." not necessarily
  "like someone else who is a"
• Sell yourself on yourself.

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Creative Thinking General Guidelines

• Face your fears
• Remember the scoffers who become scoffees.
• Intuition can be powerful. (I'm not really sure
  why, but I know it to be true!)
• Take risks.