Presentation for Staff District 30 March 1, 2010 Michele Kane, Ed.D. Assistant Professor Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL michelekane1@aol.com 773.442.5594
We need a new frame of reference in which to picture ourselves growing and recognizing how the confluence of inner resources and life circumstances can present us with opportunities to revive our lives in meaningful, satisfying ways.
Gene D. Cohen (2000), The Creative Age, p. 77
Thoughts to ponder..
! " Moving into the 21st century there are authors such as Daniel Pink who have put a spotlight on creative thinking ! " Creative thinking has had a body of research building since the 1950s ! " Few would dispute the Importance of creative thinking in public schools ! " Much of the literature focuses on creative teaching approaches and strategiesSO:
What are some of the obstacles in pursuing the creative process in the classroom?
Think about this for three minutes Share for two minutes
Barriers/Obstacles/Squelchers
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! " Weve never done it before. " Weve already tried it. " "Too modern" or "Too old fashioned." " "It's not in the budget." " You've gotta be kidding." " "What bubble head thought that up?" " "Let's wait and see. " What will the parents think? " Lets form a committee.
Barriers/Obstacles/Squelchers
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! " "That's not our job." " "It's not in the curriculum." " "It's too late." " "Don't rock the boat. " "That's not our department." " Are you nuts? " No way. " Its a waste of time. " Others???
(Davis, 2004)
Definition
! " Creativity n.creative ability; artistic or intellectual inventiveness ! " Creative adj. having the power to create; pertaining to creation; inventive; productive (of) as in a creative mind ! " Create v.t.- to originate; to bring into being from nothing
Definition (process)
! " A creator [must] claim appreciators or admirers to be legitimatized as a true creator. Simonton, 1990 ! " The intersection of two ideas for the first time Keep, cited in Taylor, 1988 ! " By this term we mean helping foster students' ability to think outside the box, create something new and find solutions to problems. District 30 explanation
Definition (originality)
! " Creativity "is the skill of bringing about something new and valuable." Young (1985, p.85) ! " Creativity is the process of bringing something new into birth. (May, 1959) ! " The ability to relate and to connect, sometimes in odd and striking fashion, lies at the heart of any creative use of the mind, no matter what field or discipline. (Siedel, 1962)
The 4 Ps
! " Person ! " Process ! " Product ! " Place (or environment)
(Davis, 2004)
Types of Creativity
! " Eminent Creativity
! " Big
! " Original
imaginative, full of ideas, is a "what if?" person, resourceful, finds ways of doing things differently, challenges assumptions, builds and rebuilds, bored by routine
! " Independent
individualistic, internally controlled/inner directed, sets own rules, self-aware, self-accepting, unconcerned with impressing others, may resist societal demands
adventurous, sensation seeking, enthusiastic, alert, spontaneous, persevering, impulsive, driving absorption, excitable, enjoys telling about discoveries, etc.
! " Curious
!"
questioning, experimenting, inquisitive, wide interests, open to new experiences and growth
! " Humorous
!"
attracted to novelty, attracted to the mysterious, tolerant of ambiguity, tolerant of disorder, tolerant of incongruity, tends to believe in psychical phenomena
! " Open-Minded
!"
receptive to new ideas, receptive to other viewpoints, open to new experiences and growth, liberal, altruistic
reflective, introspective, internally preoccupied, sensitive, likes to work by himself or herself, may be withdrawn
! " Perceptive
!"
Creative Product
! " Convergent Thinking (left brain) ! " Divergent Thinking (right brain)
! " Fluency ! " Flexibility ! " Originality ! " Elaboration
Fluency
! " Definition Fluency refers to the production of a great number of ideas or alternate solutions to a problem. Fluency implies understanding, not just remembering information that is learned. ! " Key words Compare, convert, count, define, describe, explain, identify, label, list, match, name, outline, paraphrase, predict, summarize.
http://www.bethel.edu/~shenkel/PhysicalActivities/CreativeMovement/CreativeThinking/ Torrance.html
Flexibility
! " Definition Flexibility refers to the production of ideas that show a variety of possibilities or realms of thought. It involves the ability to see things from different points of view, to use many different approaches or strategies. ! " Key words Change, demonstrate, distinguish, employ, extrapolate, interpolate, interpret, predict.
Originality
! " Definition Originality involves the production of ideas that are unique or unusual. It involves synthesis or putting information about a topic back together in a new way. ! " Key words Compose, create, design, generate, integrate, modify, rearrange, reconstruct, reorganize, revise.
http://www.bethel.edu/~shenkel/PhysicalActivities/CreativeMovement/CreativeThinking/ Torrance.html
Elaboration
! " Definition Elaboration is the process of enhancing ideas by providing more detail. Additional detail and clarity improves interest in, and understanding of, the topic. ! " Key words Appraise, critique, determine, evaluate, grade, judge, measure, select, test.
Creative Process
! " Combinations of two ideas that are unrelated ! " Torrances Definition
I have tried to describe creative thinking as taking place in the process of (1) sensing difficulties(2) making guesses/ formulating hypotheses..(3)testing these guesses and possibly revising (4) communicating the results. I like this definition because it describes a natural process (1995)
Brainstorming
! " Four Rules
! " As
much as you can as fast as you can ! " Piggyback on the ideas of others ! " Dont judge yourself or others ! " Wild, wacky, zany is desired
Source: http://www.odu.edu/educ/roverbau/Bloom/blooms_taxonomy.htm
Everyday Creativity
Nine Key Concepts:
! " Creativity is the ability to look at the ordinary and see the extraordinary. ! " Every act can be a creative one. ! " Creativity is a matter of perspective. ! " Theres always more than one right answer. ! " Reframe problems into opportunities. ! " Dont be afraid to make mistakes. ! " Break the pattern. ! " Train your technique. ! " Youve got to really care. (Dewitt Jones)
Creativity as a lifestyle
Creativeness is not identical to mentally-healthy self-actualization; however, it is an important component. Further, the more you come to define creativity as a lifestyle a way of living and perceivingthe greater is the overlap. We know thiseveryone can increase his or her creative capability.
(Davis, 2004)
Final thoughts
! " Many definitions of creativity add to the richness and confusion surrounding the topic ! " Creativity can be encouraged and aspects can be taught ! " Creative people go through a creative process to produce creative products in a creative press ! " Cultivate the creative ideas of others
(Bleadow, 2002)
Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely place. Those who dont believe in magic will never find it. Roald Dahl