Lecture 5: Creative Thinking

Creativity #5: Creative Thinking Tathagat Varma Knowledgepreneur http://thoughtleadership.in

Education kills creativity?

  In 1968, George Land administered a creativity test to 1,600 five-year-olds (Land & Jarman, 1992). The test, which he had developed for NASA to identify innovative scientists and engineers, found that   98% of tested children registered at a genius level on the

creative scale.

  But five years later, when Land readministered the test to the now-10-year-old children, only 30% of them scored at the genius level of creativity.

  After another five years, the number dropped to just 12%.

  The same test, administered to 280,000 adults, found that only 2 % registered at the genius level for creativity. Land concluded that noncreative thinking is learned.

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb13/vol70/num05/Creativity-Requires-a-Mix-of-Skills.aspx

Bloom’s Taxonomy

  Bloom's taxonomy is a set of three hierarchical models used to classify educational learning objectives into levels of complexity and specificity. The three lists cover the learning objectives in cognitive, affective and sensory domains. The cognitive domain list has been the primary focus of most traditional education and is frequently used to structure curriculum learning objectives, assessments and activities. As with most theoretical models, they are controversial even while commonly used.[1]

  They were named after Benjamin Bloom, who chaired the committee of educators that devised the taxonomy. He also edited the first volume of the standard text, Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: The Classification of Educational Goals.[2][3]

Wikipedia

What is Creative Thinking?

  Creative thinking is the process which we use when we come up with a new idea. It is the merging of ideas which have not been merged before. Brainstorming is one form of creative thinking: it works by merging someone else's ideas with your own to create a new one. You are using the ideas of others as a stimulus for your own.

  This creative thinking process can be accidental or deliberate. Without using special techniques creative thinking does still occur, but usually in the accidental way; like a chance happening making you think about something in a different way and you then discovering a beneficial change. Other changes happen slowly through pure use of intelligence and logical progression. Using this accidental or logical progression process, it often takes a long time for products to develop and improve. In an accelerating and competitive world this is obviously disadvantageous. Using special techniques, deliberate creative thinking can be used to develop new ideas. These techniques force the mergance of a wide range of ideas to spark off new thoughts and processes. Brainstorming is one of these special techniques, but traditionally it starts with unoriginal ideas.

http://www.brainstorming.co.uk/tutorials/creativethinking.html

Critical Thinking?

  Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness.

  It entails the examination of those structures or elements of thought implicit in all reasoning: purpose, problem, or question-at-issue; assumptions; concepts; empirical grounding; reasoning leading to conclusions; implications and consequences; objections from alternative viewpoints; and frame of reference. Critical thinking — in being responsive to variable subject matter, issues, and purposes — is incorporated in a family of interwoven modes of thinking, among them: scientific thinking, mathematical thinking, historical thinking, anthropological thinking, economic thinking, moral thinking, and philosophical thinking.

http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766

Critical vs. Creative Thinking

Divergent Thinking

  Divergent thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. It is often used in conjunction with its cognitive colleague, convergent thinking, which follows a particular set of logical steps to arrive at one solution, which in some cases is a ‘correct’ solution.

  By contrast, divergent thinking typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing, 'non-linear' manner, such that many ideas are generated in an emergent cognitive fashion. Many possible solutions are explored in a short amount of time, and unexpected connections are drawn. After the process of divergent thinking has been completed, ideas and information are organized and structured using convergent thinking.

  The psychologist J.P. Guilford first coined the terms convergent thinking and divergent thinking in 1956.

s

Lateral Thinking

Dr. Edward de Bono divides thinking into two methods. He calls one "vertical thinking," which uses the processes of logic--the traditional, historical method. He calls the other "lateral thinking," which involves disrupting an apparent thinking sequence and arriving at the solution from another angle. Developing breakthrough ideas does not have to be the result of luck or a shotgun effort. Dr. de Bono's proven Lateral Thinking methods provide a deliberate, systematic process that will result in innovative thinking. Creative thinking is not a talent; it's a skill that can be learned. It empowers people by adding strength to their natural abilities, which improves creativity and innovation, which leads to increased productivity and profit. Today, better quality and better service are essential, but they are not enough. Creativity and innovation are the only engines that will drive lasting, global success.

http://www.debonothinkingsystems.com/tools/lateral.htm

Lateral Thinking Quiz

  A man built a rectangular house, each side having a southern view. He spotted a bear. What colour was the bear?

  If you were alone in a deserted house at night, and there was an oil lamp, a candle and firewood and you only have one match, which would you light first?

  Is it legal for a man to marry his widow's sister?

  The 60th and 62nd British Prime Ministers of the UK had the same mother and father, but were not brothers. How do you account for this?

  A woman lives on the tenth floor of a block of flats. Every morning she takes the lift down to the ground floor and goes to work. In the evening, she gets into the lift, and, if there is someone else in the lift she goes back to her floor directly. Otherwise, she goes to the eighth floor and walks up two flights of stairs to her flat. How do you explain this?

  The band of stars across the night sky is called the "...... Way"?

  Yogurt is made from fermented ........

  What do cows drink?

  Name three consecutive days in English without using the words Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday

https://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/lateral.htm

Lateral thinking techniques

Alternatives: How to use concepts as a breeding ground for new ideas. Sometimes we do not look beyond the obvious alternatives. Focus: When and how to change the focus of your thinking. You will learn the discipline of defining your focus and sticking to it. Challenge: Breaking free from the limits of traditional thinking. With challenges, we act as though the present way of doing things is not necessarily the best. Random Entry: Using unconnected input to open up new lines of thinking. Provocation and Movement: Generating provocative statements and using them to build new ideas. Harvesting: Capturing your creative output. At the end of a creative-thinking session, we normally only take note of the specific ideas that seem practical and have obvious value. Treatment of Ideas: How to develop ideas and shape them to fit an organization or situation.

http://www.debonothinkingsystems.com/tools/lateral.htm

Creative Thinking Skills and Habits

  Open-minded   Curiosity

  Observation   Analysis

  Synthesis   Imagination

  Experimentation   Sharing ideas

  Building upon ideas / Collaboration / Teamwork

Open-minded

  Willing to consider, or receptive to new ideas; How you approach views and knowledge of others without being critical or judgmental; being flexible to other ideas and experiences

  Benefits   Let go of control   Experience change   Make yourself vulnerable   Making mistakes   Strengthening yourself   Gaining confidence   Being honest

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkwilliams/2013/01/07/the-5-secret-tricks-of-great-people-how-to-become-open-minded-in-2013/#333c1ac23bb3

Open-minded

  Techniques   Listen more than you talk

  Avoid making snap decisions

  Thank people for their suggestions

  Encourage frankness

  Hunt for new opportunities

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkwilliams/2013/01/07/the-5-secret-tricks-of-great-people-how-to-become-open-minded-in-2013/#333c1ac23bb3

How to exercise an open mind

  Reflect on your own belief system   Push the limits of your body   Stimulate your eyes   Stimulate your ears   Learn about different people and lifestyles   Learn something new   Improve your literacy and numeracy   Explore other cultures and religions   Don’t allow yourself any dead time   Face your fears   Open your mind to other points of views   Try blocking out one of your senses   Play strategy games   Travel   Give some thoughts to the mysteries of the world   Learn music   Talk to some stranger   Spend a day without checking the time   Learn to draw and paint from life   Browse internet for something you are not familiar with

http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-an-Open-Mind

Curiosity

  Open to learn new things, unlearn old things that don’t matter anymore, and relearn at any point

  Why is it important:   It makes your mind active instead of passive   It makes your mind observant of new ideas   It opens up new worlds and possibilities   It brings excitement into your life

  5 Benefits of an inquiring mind   Health   Intelligence   Social Relationships   Happiness   Meaning

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/4-reasons-why-curiosity-is-important-and-how-to-develop-it.html https://experiencelife.com/article/the-power-of-curiosity/

Curiosity

  How to develop   Keeping an open mind

  Don’t take things for granted

  Ask questions relentlessly: Why? Why not? What if?...

  Don’t label something as boring

  See learning as something fun

  Read diverse kinds of reading

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/4-reasons-why-curiosity-is-important-and-how-to-develop-it.html

Observation

  Action or the process of observing something or someone in order to gain information

  Observation is the active acquisition of information from a primary source. In living beings, observation employs the senses. In science, observation can also involve the recording of data via the use of instruments. The term may also refer to any data collected during the scientific activity. Observations can be qualitative, that is, only the absence or presence of a property is noted, or quantitative if a numerical value is attached to the observed phenomenon by counting or measuring.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observation

Improving Observation skills

  Pay attention to things that you usually ignore

  Focus on details

  Observe people

  Meditate

  Form connections

  Recollect from memory

  Keeping an idea log / record your observations

  Draw or reconstruct from memory

https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-improve-my-observation-skills-1

Inattentional Blindness

  In 1992, Arien Mack and Irvin Rock, two researchers at MIT, coined the term inattentional blindness.

Inattentional blindness is the failure to notice a fully visible but unexpected object because attention was engaged on another task, event, or object. [Mack, 1998]

  It happens to all of us. Seeing may seem like a conscious process, but the truth is, most of it is largely unconscious. Our senses are bombarded with so much information, sights, sounds, smells, etc., that our minds cannot process it all.

  To cope with the sensory overload problem, we develop filters. Filtering helps the brain deal with all the stimuli and information that bombards it.

https://ccmit.mit.edu/observation/

Distractions

  Distractions happen every day, and they are costly. A 2007 report by Basex, a business research company, estimated that distractions cost U.S. businesses $588 billion per year [Spira, 2007].

  A recent study found that an interruption as short as 2.8 seconds results in high error rates [Altman, 2013]. Then it can take 25 minutes, on average, to resume a task after being interrupted. After resuming the task, says Tom DeMarco, co-author of "Peopleware," a book on productivity, it can take an additional 15 minutes to regain the same intense focus you had before the interruption [DeMarco, 2013].

https://ccmit.mit.edu/observation/

https://ccmit.mit.edu/observation/

Analysis

  detailed examination of the elements or structure of something; a careful study of something to learn about its parts, what they do, and how they are related to each other; an explanation of the nature and meaning of something

  A systematic examination and evaluation of data or information, by breaking it into its component parts to uncover their interrelationships. Opposite of synthesis.

  An examination of data and facts to uncover and understand cause-effect relationships, thus providing basis for problem solving and decision making.

Analytical Skills

  Analytical skill is the ability to visualize, articulate, conceptualize or solve both complex and uncomplicated problems by making decisions that are sensible given the available information.

  Includes   Logical thinking

  Breaking down complex problem

Improving Analytical Skills

  Use Active Approaches   Work out math problems   Play brain games   Join a debate or reading club

  Use Passive Approaches   Build a large knowledge base   Take time to think about things   Expand your worldview   Search for connections   Pay attention to details   Ask questions about why things are that way

  Putting your skills to work   Take on new responsibilities   Challenge yourself with new things   Instruct others

http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Analytical-Skills

Synthesis

  something that is made by combining different things (such as ideas, styles, etc.);

  the production of a substance by combining simpler substances through a chemical process;

  Systematic combination of otherwise different elements to form a coherent whole.

Imagination

  the ability to imagine things that are not real

  the ability to form a picture in your mind of something that you have not seen or experienced

  the ability to think of new things

  something that only exists or happens in your mind

Experimentation

  An experiment is a procedure carried out to verify, refute, or validate a hypothesis.

  Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when a particular factor is manipulated.

Developing a Beginner’s Mind

  Zen encourages shoshin, or Beginner’s Mind

  Scientific research seems to confirm that experts are likely to close-minded!

  Practices to develop a beginner’s mind:   Take one step at a time.   Fall down seven times, get up eight times.   Use Don't Know mind. Don't pre-judge.   Live without “shoulds”.   Make use of experience. Don't negate experience, but keep an

open mind on how to apply it to each new circumstance.   Let go of being an expert.   Experience the moment fully.   Disregard common sense.   Discard fear of failure.   Use the spirit of enquiry.   Focus on questions, not answers.

http://www.inc.com/rhett-power/11-ways-how-to-develop-a-beginner-s-mind.html

Why not?

  Fried icecream?

  Self-parking chairs?

  Books with empty pages so that you can write rather than read?

  Flipped classroom?

  Museum of poverty?

  Walk with dinosaurs?

  Spicy deserts?

  …

What if…?

  …shoes could fly?

  ...pens could record what we wrote?

  ...phones could tell the mood of the other person?

  ...chairs had ten lags?

  ...we didn’t have to remember passwords?

  ...drones could take patients?

  ...light travelled slower than sound?

  ...you offered your product free to customers?

  ...

Beginner, Curious, Learner, Growth... Change the mindset

Read, travel, meet, experiences..."dots" Cognitive diversity

cc:lisamikulski-h-ps://www.flickr.com/photos/61127002@N08

Join the dots without judgment! Create intersections

Change success criteria Failure? Nah!

cc:Celes@neChua-h-ps://www.flickr.com/photos/69065182@N00

Enjoy without being critical Have fun :)

Recap

  Creative thinking is all about assimilating facts but recombining them in newer ways

  Lateral thinking offers a system to hone one’s mindset to be a lateral thinker

  However, a lot of skills and habits could be inculcated to improve one’s creative thinking

  Key is to acquire the right mindset, build components of knowledge, experiment with newer combinations, learn from feedback and have fun!

  In the next lecture, we will take up group creativity