Class Notes on Creative Thinking Skills
Embrace the Challenge
How do you do something that you have never done before? What if you don’t really understand what is going on and you still have to deliver?
So here’s an example, students were given the challenge to make an elephant. That’s right, create a 3D shape of an elephant. What? Well, to clarify, in the famed parable of the Elephant and the Six Blind men, it is very easy to make a wall, a snake, a rope, a fan etc.
What might be all the ways to make an elephant though? Yeah, that’s a tough one. It’s a pretty hard challenge.
What’s the answer? I don’t know.
What’s an answer? The solution that works for the group, given the constraints is a viable answer.
I don’t exactly see an elephant either, but I know it works for the group and that’s what matters.
Unblock the Path With the Right Attitude
Life is full of problems. That’s for sure. To embrace the challenge means to take on problems with a problem-solving attitude. When we do this, we feel able and capable, not of having the answer but able to navigate toward an outcome that works. To embrace a challenge is not to run away, though we’d probably like to because it the situation is stressful.
Unblock the Path with the Right Attitude
Some stress is good. Too much stress can block us and things break down. Having the attitude that, “I am challenged by this and need to think about it or take a minute to catch my breath,” is exacly what is needed in complex situations. In pausing, we can calm down the central nervous system and revisit with a clearer head.
Creative Thinking Skills provide the powerful competentcy to think things through, filter, evaulate and develop original thought.
Embracing the Challenge is central to being able to think creatively. By keeping an open mind in the face of a challenge you are better able to uncover novel solutions that are useful.
Learn Through Fun
When we work through hard, and yes, for practice silly problems, we learn the following:
Fun is important in learning. When we laugh we are more open to trying, failing, learning.
Practicing the lesson outside of a real life example has value particularly for reflection.
Building confidence to solve problems develops an inner strength, critical for 21st century life.
Building a Mental Toolbox
Just like we have particular tools for working around the house, the garden, on cars, bicycles etc, so too do we need tools for thinking. Especially when it comes to problem solving (which is just about all of life), the right mindset and set of thinking tools provide the confidence and capacity to be more creative, meaning more productive and more happy.
WoC students embracing the challenge of making an elephant
Way too easy to replicate as a living picture.
Add the right words to a problem-solving attitude
Creative teaching for Creative thinking at Wings of Change
Tanya Knudsen is a creative consultant, educator, polyglot and PhD candidate for creative leadership. Her quest is to ignite creative thinking, our super power and highest order thinking skill to maximize creative potential for everyone.
This blogpost series is from Creativity Through English, a course Tanya teaches at Wings of Change in Nosy Be, Madagascar.
