Module: CME4000-20 Ideation and Creative Problem Solving

Level: 4

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: James Newman

Module Tutor Contact Details: j.newman@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

Although we are well used to hearing the term in everyday and professional contexts, just what do we mean by 'creativity'?

As Kaufman and Sternberg (2010) note in The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity, it can refer to a person, process, place, or product. It can be found in geniuses and in small children. It has been studied by psychologists, educators, neuroscientists, historians, sociologists, economists, engineers, and scholars of all types. However, there are still debates, after more than six decades of intensive research, on how to measure, utilize, and improve it.

This module aims to explore and develop your abilities to solve problems creatively in a diverse variety of contexts. As we will see throughout the module, creative thinking skills are as much about attitude and self-confidence as about talent. As Cotrell (2011) observes, creativity is often less ordered, structured and predictable. As you are not looking for 'one' answer, you are likely to come up with lots of suggestions that are not 'right'. This can be difficult if you are more used to analytical and logical approaches. It can also be experienced as 'risky' as the prospect of making a mistake or not coming up with an answer is more likely.

Creative problem solving usually requires two distinct phases: divergent thinking (ideation) and convergent thinking (idea analysis and evaluation). The module will explore both approaches and their relationship in the context of the digital economy. It will look at the importance of what Cottrell (2011) calls the empathy and the emotional self-management often needed in order to allow creative thinking states to emerge. It is important to be able to cope with risk, confusion, disorder and feeling that you are not progressing quickly.

Throughout the module, you will be introduced to a variety of theoretical models of creativity and strategies for nurturing and capturing creative thinking. You will work on a series of projects requiring the use of these different approaches and strategies. Projects will vary in terms of the mediums and resources you will work with (some traditional media projects as well as more abstract creative exercises such as rapidly prototyping solutions to complex problems) as well as the amount of time you will have for planning (you many have many weeks to plan and complete a video project while you may be allocated just a few hours for prototyping projects in this context).

2.Outline syllabus

There are two key components of the module's syllabus:

1. Introduction to ideation and creative problem-solving techniques such as visualisation, attribute listing, mind mapping, metaphorical thinking, Six Hats Thinking, parallel thinking, Lego Serious Play, bisociation, forced relationships, free association, stream of consciousness and idea incubation.

2. A series of sandpit workshops designed to challenge creative problem-solving abilities. As well as your ongoing, longer-term assessments, you will work on a diverse range of short projects in the classroom which are designed to allow you to put into practice the strategies you have been introduced to.

3.Teaching and learning activities

Lectures will provide an overview of key theories of creative thinking and strategies for enhancing, capturing and presenting creative solutions.

Sandpit workshop sessions will explore ideation and creative problem-solving techniques. These sessions are designed around a diverse range of projects that you will work on in the classroom. There will be a mixture of 'seen' and 'unseen' projects and different time limits and resource restrictions.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW
• Description: Report (2000 words)
• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW
• Description: Reflective review of the creative sessions (2000 words)
• % Weighting: 50%