Objective:
- To generate multiple ideas, concepts, proposals, solutions, or arguments independently and/or collaboratively in response to identified problems and opportunities
- To think speculatively, employing both convergent and divergent approaches to arrive at appropriate solutions
- To explore and evaluate ideas.
Overview:
The focus within this task is to simulate innovative thinking within a curriculum topic, using creative methodology to create ideas that can be evaluated and explored.
Activity :
This creative thinking activity is potentially run over 2 hrs.
The academic tutor will need to identify a problem linked to curriculum topic or industry/sector e.g. 5 items that cannot be recycled. This topic can be prompted by recent news in the sector or the latest research update in your area. The task is then to explore this problem, but without using traditional methods. This problem therefore needs to be explored by the teams using drawing/ playdough to think through the problem and discuss solutions. No writing is permitted during this task. Music and creative freedom is encouraged to establish a comfortable and learner directed environment. The time allocated for this first part of the challenge is 1 hr.
The second segment of the session is run as a presentation showcase and requires presentations from each team's problem/visualisation and the audience are invited to discuss what they feel the solution/s are. The original group is then given 5 minutes to draw in addition comment from their peer group and confirm their final solution.
Skill Development:
Students have the opportunity to work creatively an d beyond the traditional limits or expectations of their subject area or background. Such freedom brings its own challenges and constraints but provides a rich opportunity to innovative think and problem solving through creativity.  The peer-review and comment aspect of the presentation allows the continued support of peers in the development of solutions and allows them to work co-operatively, rather than competitively to support the development of solutions. As 'chair' of this "solution-conference" your role will also be to draw out key reflections on the following topics:
- Group work (roles; timing; constraints)
- Creative process (constraints as enablers)
- Communication skills (outside traditional methods). You can also explore how creativity is achieved and
developed and the impact of peer-review and support in refining ideas and communication.
Resources:
- Post-its or similar sticky pads
- Flip chart paper
- Play dough or plasticine