- 3 Sections
- 9 Lessons
- Lifetime
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- Chapter 1: Why is it critical to teach learners to be creative thinkers?Arthur L. Costa is a professor of education at California State University, Sacramento, USA. He was a teacher, curriculum consultant and the director of educational programs for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Costa has spent his career improving education by developing the teaching of thinking. He states that 21st century learning is about the process, not content. In other words: ‘We must finally admit that process is the content. If we want learners to develop certain behavioural characteristics, taking a critical stance with their work, inquiring, thinking flexibly, learning from another person’s perspective, then we should start with these attributes and focus the entire curriculum on achieving them. The core of our curriculum must focus on such processes as learning to learn, knowledge production, meta-cognition, transference, decision-making, creativity and group problem solving. These are the subject matters of instruction.’ Art Costa – Developing Minds (Author of ‘Habits of Mind.)6
- 1.1What is Creative Thinking? Why is it Important? How does Creative Thinking belong in the 21st Century workplace?
- 1.2Activity 1: What is Creativity?10 Minutes2 Questions
- 1.3Can we Teach Creativity? How can we use Blooms Taxonomy to do so? Why are questions important?
- 1.4Activity 2: Bloom’s Taxonomy.15 Minutes10 Questions
- 1.5How do we Teach Creative Thinking?
- 1.6Activity 3: Creative Thinking Skills.15 Minutes5 Questions
- CHAPTER 2: Divergent ThinkingDivergent thinking generates ideas. Divergent thinking tools are idea generation tools like brainstorming where an idea is followed in several directions to lead to one or more new ideas, which in turn lead to still more ideas. Divergent thinking is in contrast to convergent thinking, which aims at solving a specific problem. Divergent thinking is creative, open-ended thinking aimed at generating fresh views and novel solutions. ‘Divergent thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. Divergent thinking typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing, environment.’5
- 2.1What is Divergent Thinking? Tool 1: Brainstorming.
- 2.2Tools 2 and 3: Flexibility and Modification.
- 2.3Activity 4: Brainstorming, Flexibility and Modification.15 Minutes6 Questions
- 2.4Tools 4, 5 and 6: Forced Relationships, Fluency and Shared Attributes.
- 2.5Activity 5: Forced Relationships, Fluency and Shared Attributes20 Minutes10 Questions
- Chapter 3: Lateral ThinkingDivergent thinking generates ideas. Divergent thinking tools are idea generation tools like brainstorming where an idea is followed in several directions to lead to one or more new ideas, which in turn lead to still more ideas. Divergent thinking is in contrast to convergent thinking, which aims at solving a specific problem. Divergent thinking is creative, open-ended thinking aimed at generating fresh views and novel solutions. ‘Divergent thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. Divergent thinking typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing, environment.’4
