Module 18: PROBLEM
SOLVING AND
CREATIVITY
Edward Paul Torrance
• Known as the "Father of Creativity" for his
nearly 60 years of research that became the
framework for the field of gifted education.
• “Torrance Test of Creative Thinking”
• He invented the benchmark method for
quantifying creativity.
Torrance Framework for
Creative Thinking
Fluency
• Fluency refers to the production of a great
number of ideas or alternate solutions to a
problem. Fluency implies understanding, not just
remembering information that is learned.
Key words: compare, convert, count, define,
describe, explain, identify, label, list, match, name,
outline, paraphrase, predict, summarize
Application Activities:
• Trace a picture and label its parts.
• Outline an article you find on your topic.
• How many uses can you think of a
clothes hanger?
Flexibility
• Flexibility refers to the production of ideas that
show a variety of possibilities or realms of
thought. It involves the ability to see things
from different points of view, to use many
different approaches or strategies.
Key words: Change, demonstrate, distinguish,
employ, extrapolate, interpolate, interpret,
predict.
Application Ideas:
• What would happen if ... there were no
automobiles
• How would a ... dog look to a flea? How is
_______ like ________?
• How would you feel if ... you were invisible for a
day?
Elaboration
• Elaboration is the process of enhancing ideas by
providing more detail. Additional detail and clarity
improves interest in, and understanding of, the
topic.
Key words: Appraise, critique, determine,
evaluate, grade, judge, measure, select, test.
Application Ideas:
• Tell your neighbor about your last family
trip using as many detail as possible.
• What can you add to_______ to
improve its quality o r performance?
Originality
• Originality involves the production of ideas that are
unique or unusual. It involves synthesis or putting
information about a topic back together in a new
way.
Key words: Compose, create, design, generate,
integrate, modify, rearrange, reconstruct, reorganize,
revise.
Application Ideas:
• Find an original use for_________.
• What would be the strangest way to get out
of bed?
• Design a new___________ that is better
than the one you have
CREATIVE PROBLEM
SOLVING- CPS
• is an intentional process for solving problems
and discovering opportunities.
• It espouses the use of creativity in coming up
withsolutions which are not only novel but
practical as well.
2 Types of Thinking
Divergent Thinking
Convergent Thinking
• the process of thinking
• The process of figuring
that explores multiple
out a concrete solution to
possible solutions in
any problem
order to generate
• It’s a straight forward
creative ideas.
process that focuses on
• opening the mind in
figuring out the most
various directions and
effective answer to a
trying out multiple
problem.
solutions for a problem.
Van Gundy's (1988) Description
Stage 1: Mess Finding
Sensitise yourself (scan, search) for issues (concerns,
challenges, opportunities etc.) that need to be tackled
• Divergent Techniques includes "Wouldn't It Be Nice If..."
(WIBNI) and "Wouldn't It Be Awful If... (WIBAI)"
• Convergent Techniques Include the identification of
hotspots (Highlighting) expressed in "What Ways
Might..." (IWWM)
Stage 2: Data Finding
Gather information about the problem
• Divergent Techniques include Five W'S And H
(Who, Why, What, When, Where and How) and
listing of 'wants, sources and data.
• Convergent Techniques include identifying
hotspots (Highlights) Mind-Mapping to sort and
classify the information gathered.
Stage 3: Problem Finding
convert a fuzzy statement of the problem into a broad
statement more suitable for idea finding.
• Divergent techniques include asking 'Why?'
- the repeatable questions and Five W's and H.
• Convergent techniques include Highlighting
again reformulation of problem statements to
meet the criteria that they contain only one
problem and no criteria
Stage 4: Idea Finding
generate as many ideas as possible
• Divergence using any of a very wide
range of idea-generating tecniques.
• Convergence can again involve hotspots or
mind-mapping, the combining of different ideas.
More like this
Stage 5: Solution Finding
• Generate and select obvious evaluation criteria
Stage 6: Acceptance Finding
• formulate a plan of action. Determine your need,
obstacles or difficulties, and specific short- and
long-term steps.
Bransford's IDEAL Model
• Identify the problem
• Define the problem through thinking
• Explore solutions through alternatives.
• Act on the strategies.
• Look Back and evaluate.
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!
