Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success

In today’s ever-growing and changing world, being able to think creatively and innovatively are essential skills. It can sometimes be challenging to step back and reflect in an environment which is fast paced or when you are required to assimilate large amounts of information. Making sense of or communicating new ideas in an innovative and engaging way, approaching problems from fresh angles, and producing novel solutions are all traits which are highly sought after by employers.

The greatest innovators aren’t necessarily the people who have the most original idea. Often, they are people- or teams- that have harnessed their creativity to develop a new perspective or more effective way of communicating an idea. You can train your imagination to seize opportunities, break away from routine and habit, and tap into your natural creativity.

This course will equip you with a ‘tool-box’, introducing you to a selection of behaviours and techniques that will augment your innate creativity. Some of the tools are suited to use on your own and others work well for a group, enabling you to leverage the power of several minds.

The practical approach of this course enables you to acquire an essential skill-set for generating ideas, with plenty of:

Fun e-tivities and exercises;
Practical lectures and tips;
Video representations of the techniques in action.

You can pick and choose which of these tools or techniques suit your needs and interests, focusing on some or all of the selected approaches and in the order that fits best for you.

Whatever you’re doing, whether it’s work or leisure, if you practice spending time applying these tools to anything you see or imagine, they will help you get into the habit of making space for observation and imagination. No previous knowledge is needed.

Join this course and our community of practioners in CREATIVITY!

We look forward to seeing you online!

The total learning hours for this Module amount to 75. These are distributed across the following categories:

Total Contact Hours: 30
Self-Study Hours: 8
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours: 0
Assessment Hours: 37

This Module carries a value of 3 ECTS.

Module-Specific Learner Skills:

At the end of the module/unit the learner will be able to

Integrate theory, research findings and practice for real-world problem solving.

Understand what creative thinking techniques are
Comprehend their importance in tackling global challenges as well as in everyday problem-solving scenarios
Apply different brainstorming techniques in group activities
Be proficient in the application of the 6 thinking hats tool in different life scenarios
Develop a systematic approach to idea generation through the use of morphological analysis
Innovate on an existing product, service or situation applying the SCAMPER method
Get confident with the theory of inventive problem solving, called TRIZ
Select and apply the appropriate technique based on the opportunity to seize or the problem to tackle

Competences:

At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:

Demonstrates autonomy in the direction of learning and a high level of understanding of learning processes.

Exhibit autonomy in problem-solving using creative techniques.

Manages people and projects and demonstrates the ability to respond to the fast-changing business environment.

Demonstrate accountability for implementing creative solutions in various contexts.
Act responsibly in encouraging a culture of creativity.

Knowledge:

At the end of the module/unit the learner will have been exposed to the following:

Integrate forward-thinking concepts, standards, and managerial decision-making tools in the functional areas of management.

Examine various creativity tools and evaluate their applications in problem-solving and innovation.
Analyze the TRIZ process and its principles.
Explain and critically evaluate the SCAMPER technique.
Assess the fundamental principles of creativity and creative thinking.
Evaluate various brainstorming techniques and their underlying principles, and synthesize approaches to enhance team-based creative thinking.
Evaluate appropriate brainstorming techniques for different stages of a project.
Examine the principles of Morphological Analysis.
Analyze and apply preferred principles for addressing challenges using the contradiction matrix effectively.

Evaluate the use of creativity tools in real-world scenarios and synthesize solutions based on their practical applications.

Skills:

At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the following skills:

Techniques for fostering creativity.
Problem-solving and innovative thinking skills.
Design thinking and brainstorming abilities.
Advanced teamwork skills to promote creativity and synthesize well-rounded, innovative solutions in collaborative environments.

Experiment with different creative tools and apply these techniques in various contexts as well as to real-world problems.

Module 1

Principles of Creativity

Define Creativity, Levels of Creativity, and Creativity Values.
Creative Environments. Low-stress environment - B's of creativity.
Developing creative mind through inspirational Reading.

Module 2

Creativity Tools

The Principles of Brainstorming.
Knowledge Check
Brainstorming Tools.
- Flip Chart
- Post-it
- Alphabet Brainstorming
- Brainwriting Application
- Grid Brainstorming

E-tivity: Application of Grid Brainstorming.
Knowledge Check.

Module 3

Thinking Styles

The Value of Diversity in Creativity.
Principles of various thinking styles.
E-tivity: Taking an Evidence-Based Approach.
Design Thinking.
Examples of Design Thinking.
E-tivity: Share Your Creativity Style.

Module 4

Morphological Analysis

Introduction to Morphological Analysis.
Morphological Analysis: Principles and Description.
Knowledge Check: Morphological Analysis.
Morphological Analysis - Plot Line.
E-tivity: Production of an Original MA Chart.
Knowledge Check: Morphological Analysis and Plot Lines.

Module 5

TRIZ

What is the TRIZ process?
The Principles of TRIZ.
The 39 Parameters of Atshuller's Contradiction Matrix.
Knowledge Check: TRIZ Principles and Parameters.
Introduction to Contradiction Matrix.
How to Use the Contradiction Matrix.
E-tivity: Application of TRIZ.

Module 6

SCAMPER

Introduction to SCAMPER: Principles and Provocation.
SCAMPER for Architecture.
Team Innovation Using SCAMPER.
Knowledge Check: SCAMPER.
E-tivity: Application of SCAMPER.

Module 7

Using the Tools in Combination

Creative Problem Solving.
The Double Diamond Model.
Examples of Application: Circle Brainstorming.
E-tivity: Share Your Creativity Style.
Circle Brainstorming.
B-Link.
E-tivity: B-Link.
Knowledge Check: Overview of Creative Thinking Techniques.

Courses are generally made up of weekly modules with pre-recorded videos that you can watch on a schedule or at your own pace. There are supplemental readings and student discussion forums, as well as homework assignments.