Module 106 – creative thinking
Creative Thinkers we looked at; Salvador Dahli and Leonardo da Vinci.
Activities/projects we worked on throughout the module
Eves dropping and stories
For this project we had to go around Newcastle and listening in on peoples conversations without them knowing. From the conversations we hear we had to produce a short story. My partner and me went to the central station and listened to an elderly couples conversation about trains whilst sat in Burger King. We called them Deirdre and Norman and gave them inappropriate ages of 68 (Deirdre) and 35 (Norman). Here is an extract from our story.
“They enjoy Burger King and talking about trains over coffee. Deidre had a suitcase filled with toy trains; she showed Norman quite a few. We believe they are Trainspotters. They were partially interested in the number 39 to Middleborough, Norman suggested taking pictures for their collection, Deidre went on to compliment her train ornaments – vintage of course.”
We were then asked questions about our couple by the class. I enjoyed this project but did find it hard as it was the start of the year and I was nervous.
Mind Mapping
Mind mapping is a way to help get creative ideas flowing. We have learnt to put the subject in the centre of the page then think of different things associated with the original subject, from these words we think of other items/objects/words. I have found that we come up with some extreme ideas for adverts but they are still relevant to the original word.
Another form of this is word association, where we have been given a word and said the first thing that comes to mind after it, this goes on and each word is relevant to the word before but not usually the original starting point.
Save a life for one pound
For this project we went to the pound shop and found an item that could save a life but it couldn’t be something obvious, it had to be an everyday item. We choose a belt; the reasons for this were – use as a sling, save someone drowning, us as a rabbit trap to catch food etc.
We were then asked to come up with 50 alternative uses for our object some of our reasons were – holding trousers up, shooting up, light switch, dog lead etc.
I enjoyed this project because it was enjoyable and we were split into different groups, giving us a chance to get to know each other more.
Left Brain Right Brain
This is the theory of the function of the brain, which suggests that two different sides of the brain control different “modes” or the way think, we are all partial to one more then the other. Making us a lateral thinking or a literal thinker.
Left Brain Right Brain
- Practical –- forms strategies - Symbols and images
- Reality based - Philosophy and religion
- Perception - “Big picture” oriented
- Safe - Risk taking
- Facts rules - Uses feeling
- Knowing - Believes
- Maths and science - Imagination rules
- Detail oriented - Appreciates
- Acknowledges - Fantasy based
- Present and past - Impetuous
- Order/pattern - Knows about function
- Words and language - Spatial perception
- Uses logic - Presents possibilities
- Can comprehend
Six Thinking Hats
The six thinking hats theory was found by Edward de Bono and used for exploring different perspectives toward a complex situation or challenge. It helps people see things in a different way as well as helping them adopt a variety of perceptions in a subject from the one they might most naturally assume.
White Hat Blue Hate
- What information do you already have? - Conclusion
- What information so you need? - Summary
- How will you get it? - Always start and end with a
- Facts blue hat.
- Research - Clear to the point
Green Hat Yellow Hat
- Creative growth of ideas - “Sunshine optimism”
- Change ideas - Positive values
- Generate new ideas - Benefits
- How it will work
Black Hat Red Hat
- Critical thinking - Passion
- What’s wrong with this? - Feelings
- Negativity - Hunches
- Rationalizing - Emotions
- Looking for problems - Instinct
Notes within the creative thinking module
Why are you creative – by Hannah Vaske
Creativity – once a divine gift and metaphor for elite intelligence
- Available as a bargain-basement come-on for supermarket chains, anything goes if it “creates” sales
- From the Latin word “creare” meaning ‘bring something into being that did not previously exist’
- Webster’s dictionary – ‘marked by the ability or power to create; having the quality of something created rather then imitated’
Daniel Barendorm “everyday when I wake up I want to create something, its important for me to have new ideas, to rework old ideas”
Creative thinking is not a talent it is a skill that can be learnt.
- Empowers people by adding strength to their natural abilities
- Improves team work/productivity and profits.
Creative thinking skills
- Different approaches to other forms of thinking
- Relaxed and open-minded approach
Carrier
We had to produce a carrier that would hold all the information and projects we had collected, this could be as big or small as we liked.
For my carrier I made a book that was filled with all the information I needed and how I had used them in the activities. Around the book was the belt we had used for ‘save a life for one pound’, which represented me unlocking my ideas; the belt was covered in handmade flowers which represented the growth of ideas also throughout the book I had drawn a flower theme to keep a regular house style. I enjoyed making my carrier but truly hated presenting it, as it was our first presentation and I do not enjoy being stood in front of a room full of people.
