Using Creative Thinking to Solve Real Problems

by Laura Magner

Creative thinking activities are not a frill in the curriculum. Creative thinking strategies are necessary for success in most careers of the 21^st century – not only art, drama, and music, but in new technologies and innovations. And because the strategies are fun to experience, the brain retains the strategy to apply to future situations.

In Section One of The Creativity Tackle Box offers strategies, games, exercises, and tools to help students practice thinking more creatively. These activities practice Torrance’s, Williams’ and Wallas’ creativity components that help define the theory of creative thought:

• fluency

• flexibility

• originality

• elaboration

• risk taking

• preparation (definition of issue, observation, and study)

• incubation (laying the issue aside for a time)

• illumination (the moment when a new idea finally emerges), and

• verification (checking it out)

Second Two offers real problems for students to solve in a creative way using strategies practiced in Section One. It is important for students to practice letting go, to feel free to take chances, to fail, and to try again. And not just in art class – in any class.

Sample pages from the book (in .pdf form)
Sample pages from the book (in .pdf form)
Sample pages from the book (in .pdf form)