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Matthew Yu,
Sirirat Lim,
and
Hsu Clary
Week(1): What is Creativity Week(2): How to Use Creativity Week(3): Creative Problem-Solving Tools: Mind Mapping, & Synectics Week(4): Creative Problem Solving Tools: Brain Storming, Brain Writing, Six-Thinking hats, & Design Thinking Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for anyone looking to boost their confidence when it comes to creative problem-solving, you don’t need any previous experience of the topic.
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Reviews summary
Practical tools for creative problem solving
According to students, this course is a largely positive introduction to creative problem-solving, equipping learners with practical tools and strategies they can immediately apply. Reviewers frequently highlight the course's clear explanations and engaging approach, making complex concepts accessible. It's often praised as a solid foundation for those new to the subject or looking to boost their confidence. While the course provides a good overview of various techniques like Mind Mapping, Brainstorming, and the Six Thinking Hats, some learners suggest a desire for more in-depth exploration of certain topics, particularly Design Thinking, if they had prior experience.
Some topics could benefit from more detailed exploration.
"While comprehensive, I wished the Design Thinking module went into a bit more depth with practical examples."
"For an experienced professional, some parts felt a bit basic, but it's great for refreshing concepts."
"I would have liked more advanced content or case studies for certain creative techniques."
Instructor keeps the learning experience compelling and clear.
"The instructor made the lectures very clear and engaging, which kept me motivated throughout."
"I found the teaching style to be highly effective and easy to understand."
"The instructor's enthusiasm for the subject really came through and made the learning enjoyable."
Excellent for those new to creative problem-solving concepts.
"As someone with no prior experience in this area, I found the course perfectly paced and easy to follow."
"This course is a great starting point for beginners looking to enhance their creative thinking skills."
"It really helped me boost my confidence in tackling problems creatively, even as a beginner."
Introduces valuable creative problem-solving frameworks.
"The modules on Mind Mapping and Brainstorming were particularly insightful and well-explained."
"I appreciated learning about the Six Thinking Hats; it provided a structured way to approach problems."
"The course covers a good range of methods like Brain Writing and Synectics, which I hadn't encountered before."
Course offers techniques easily applied to real-world challenges.
"I found the techniques taught in this course to be incredibly practical and immediately applicable to my work."
"The creative problem-solving tools presented are very useful; I can see myself using them right away."
"This course provided me with actionable strategies that I could directly implement in my projects."
Activities
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Using Creative Problem Solving.
These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.
Career center
Learners who complete Using Creative Problem Solving will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/5zl6lw/using
Reading list
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This widely popular book offers a twelve-week program designed to help individuals discover and recover their creative selves. It focuses on spiritual and psychological tools, such as morning pages and artist dates, to unlock creativity. It practical guide often used as a personal workshop.
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Motivational guide for creatives who are struggling to overcome their fear and self-doubt.
Offers a deep dive into fostering creativity within an organizational setting, drawing lessons from Pixar Animation Studios. It's particularly relevant for those interested in leadership, management, and the dynamics of creative teams. It provides practical insights applicable to both business and collaborative creative projects.
A seminal book on disruptive innovation, this text is crucial for understanding how new, creative ideas can challenge established industries. While focused on business, its lessons are highly relevant for understanding the impact of creative disruption in any field. It's a key text for those interested in innovation strategy.
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Provides a step-by-step guide to design thinking, a process that can be used to solve complex problems and create innovative solutions.
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Provides a practical guide to the lean startup methodology, which can be used to test and validate new business ideas quickly and cheaply.
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Provides a contrarian view of innovation, arguing that successful startups are those that create new markets rather than compete in existing ones.
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Explores the psychology of creativity, and how it can be fostered and developed.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the cognitive processes involved in creativity.
Examines the factors that contribute to creativity in organizations, and how it can be managed and encouraged.
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Explores the neuroscience of creativity, and how the brain processes and generates creative ideas.
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Humorous and accessible guide to creativity, written by the legendary comedian and actor John Cleese.
While not solely focused on creativity, this book provides a foundational understanding of how our minds work, exploring the two systems of thought that drive the way we think and make decisions. Understanding these cognitive processes can offer valuable insights into how creative ideas are generated and evaluated. It widely referenced book in psychology and behavioral economics.
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This classic text explores the concept of 'flow,' a state of complete absorption in an activity. Understanding flow is crucial for comprehending the psychological conditions that enable deep creative work and optimal performance. It foundational text in positive psychology and creativity studies.
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Adam Grant examines how to champion new ideas and fight groupthink. is highly relevant for understanding the process of bringing creative ideas to fruition in the face of resistance and inertia. It offers compelling research and stories applicable to entrepreneurship and organizational innovation.
Serves as an excellent introduction to Design Thinking, a widely used framework for creative problem-solving. It provides practical tools and methodologies that can be directly applied to creative projects and innovation challenges. It is suitable for those new to structured creative processes.
Johnson explores the environments and conditions that have historically fostered innovation and creativity. provides a broader historical and environmental context for understanding where creative breakthroughs originate. It's valuable for gaining perspective beyond individual creativity.
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A powerful and motivating book that addresses the internal barriers artists and creatives face, such as procrastination and self-doubt. It's a valuable resource for anyone struggling with the psychological challenges of sustained creative work. It offers practical advice for overcoming resistance.
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This concise and visually appealing book offers a refreshing perspective on creativity, emphasizing the importance of drawing inspiration from others and remixing ideas. It's an accessible and encouraging read for anyone looking to start or enhance their creative practice. It challenges traditional notions of originality.
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Provides a practical guide to developing and maintaining a creative practice, with exercises and strategies that can be used by anyone.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
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