The document explores the concept of creativity, defining it as the ability to use imagination or original ideas to create something. It discusses the creative process, traits of creative individuals, and the importance of creativity in the modern world, emphasizing the role of divergent and convergent thinking. Additionally, it provides strategies for enhancing creativity and highlights the impact of cultural experiences on creative thinking.

1. Creativity What is it, who has it and why and how to get it. Creativity!

2. Visual Thinking with Kermit the frog Creativity! Is Kermit “creative”? What is “creativity”?

3. Definition of CREATIVITY Creativity! Visuwords definition adjective involving the use of the imagination or original ideas in order to create something. Oxford English Dictionary other related words for creativity : creativeness, formativeness, innovation, inventiveness, originality, productivity, craftsmanship, authorship, creatorship " Being creative is seeing the same thing as everybody else but thinking of something different"

4. Aspects of creativity Creativity! 1. The creative process: mechanisms, phases 2. The creative person: traits, characteristics 3. The creative product: practical application

5. The creative process Creativity! Divergent thinking is the intellectual ability to think of many original, diverse, and elaborate ideas. Convergent thinking : the intellectual ability to logically evaluate, critique and choose the best idea from a selection of ideas.

6. Creative Problem Solving (CPS) Creativity! Mess-finding Fact-finding Problem-finding Idea-finding Solution-finding Action-finding Both divergent and convergent…a complementing cycle of diverge-converge-diverge-converge…

7. Where is creativity? Creativity! Domain – symbols, rules and procedures in shared knowledge (e.g. mathematics, literature) 2. Field – the “gatekeepers” of the domain (e.g. scientists, critics, historians) 3. Person – more on this later…

8. Where is creativity? Creativity! Creativity occurs when a person , using the symbols of a given domain , has a new idea or sees a new pattern and it is selected by the field for inclusion in the relevant domain…to change or create a new domain. - Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention

9. Who is creative? Creativity! 32 traits of creative people… Are you creative? Name some creative people – what do they have in common? Who is not creative? Why?

10. Creativity! Dr. Frank Williams’ Exercise in Divergent Thinking FL: Fluency – the number of ideas FX: Flexibility – a variety of viewpoints; thinking in different ways O: Originality – uniqueness E: Elaboration – taking the idea as far as it can go

11. Creativity! Why is creativity important? Daniel Pink, A Whole New Mind (2006) “ Conceptual Age”: creator, empathizer 3 A’s: Abundance, Asia, Automation High concept, high touch … a need for inventive, flexible, spontaneous people! Richard Florida, Rise of the Creative Class (2002) the “creative class”: scientists, engineers, artists, musicians, designers the key to economic development in 21 st century its share of the workforce is double it was in 1980 3 T’s: Technology, Talent and Tolerance = economic growth

12. How can I become more creative? You are already… pursuing something you love, curious about the world, focusing on improving your skills, giving yourself time for reflection…right? Creativity! Problem-finding Express what moves you Look at problems from many viewpoints Find many solutions to many problems (be indecisive!) Implement a solution with the freedom to change

13. Creativity! How?... Brainstorming (CPS model) Mind-mapping Role-playing (theatre) Teamwork Journaling (recording text and image) Lateral thinking Most have difficulty generating ideas! Divergent thinking Produce as many ideas as possible Produce different, unlikely ideas How can I become more creative?

14. Creativity! Creativity and the cross-cultural experience Refer to “32 traits”…how many can be a result of the cross-cultural experience? Think about the 3 T’s… Adaptable, tolerant of ambiguity, observant, perceive world differently, flexible, intuitive, self-actualizing, self-knowledgeable, curious, independent… Your cross-cultural experience makes you more creative! How is creativity defined, celebrated, or discouraged in your culture?

15. Creativity! An exercise in creativity…. Having trouble getting started? Here’s some ideas… sketch drawings or symbols of things you did as a child that were creative scribble over your whole page then draw over top (get rid of the “blank” page dilemma!) combine an animal and a fruit illustrate a sound or feeling (e.g. “breezy”, “voices”)

16. Further reading… Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention. 1996. Harper Collins. Pink, Daniel. A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age . 2006. Riverhead Publishing. Florida, Richard. Rise of the Creative Class…and how it’s transforming work, leisure, community and everyday life. 2002. Basic Books. Florida, R. and Gates, G. “Technology and Tolerance: the Importance of Diversity to High-technology Growth” . Brookings Institution, Center on Urban & Metropolitan Policy Survey Series, 2001. Hanna, J. “Getting Down to the Business of Creativity” . HBS Working Knowledge, May 14, 2008. Parks, Sharon Daloz. “What Artists Know About Leadership” HBS Working Knowledge , Nov. 7, 2005.