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Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. John F Cabra

Creativity is an essential skill for the 21st Century that is innate in all people and can be nurtured. We constantly need new and better ideas for almost every aspect of our professional and personal lives. The goal of this course is to help you recognize, develop and act upon the creativity that you already possess. We will accomplish this using three methods: b aware, b inspired, and b creative.

Upon completion of this course participants will:

Recognize the inherent creativity in yourself and others.

Identify characteristics of a creative person that relate to yourself.

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Creativity is an essential skill for the 21st Century that is innate in all people and can be nurtured. We constantly need new and better ideas for almost every aspect of our professional and personal lives. The goal of this course is to help you recognize, develop and act upon the creativity that you already possess. We will accomplish this using three methods: b aware, b inspired, and b creative.

Upon completion of this course participants will:

Recognize the inherent creativity in yourself and others.

Identify characteristics of a creative person that relate to yourself.

Develop creative problem solving skills using the basic elements of the creative process.

Examine qualities of a creative environment in real world settings.

Evaluate an idea using the creative product criteria.

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What's inside

Syllabus

What is Creativity?
In this module, we will be featuring the skill “Look at it Another Way”. This skill is about becoming aware of what ideas, challenges, and solutions feel like from multiple perspectives, views, or mindsets. These ideas may manifest as spoken words or internal thoughts. For example, take a moment to picture a tree. What does it look like? Does it have leaves? What season are you in? Did you picture the tree from straight on? If so, try picturing the tree from a birds-eye view, or from an ant's perspective. If your tree was in full bloom, picture the same tree in winter. It probably looks much different! That's what this module is all about looking at things from different perspectives in order to gain new insights! As you go through this module's lessons, we would like you to consider the following things: * What might be all of the different ways to look at these lessons and assignments? * How does changing your perspective spark your imagination? * When deliberately employing this skill, do you feel more creative? We encourage you to keep this description handy, as we will be asking you to apply this skill throughout the module. Ready? Let's get started! * Skill taken from Torrance, E.P., & Safter, H.T. (1999). Making the creative leap beyond... Hadley, MA: Creative Education Foundation Press.**
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Designed for learners looking to learn the fundamentals of creativity
Emphasizes the role of visualization and imagination in the creative process
Taught by instructors with experience in creativity and education
Provides practical skills and exercises to develop creative abilities
Explores different aspects of creativity, including problem-solving and product development
May require some prior knowledge of creativity concepts

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Reviews summary

Practical boost for everyday creativity

According to learners, this course is a largely positive introduction designed to ignite everyday creativity. Students appreciate the practical techniques and actionable tools provided, which help them shift their perspective and apply creative thinking to both personal and professional challenges. The course is described as providing a solid foundation and being particularly ideal for beginners or those new to formal creativity concepts. However, some students note that the course lacks depth and may feel too basic or repetitive for those who have prior knowledge or experience in the subject. Overall, students found the course effective in making them more aware of their own creative process and more confident in generating new ideas.
Excellent starting point for newcomers
"A great introductory course."
"Might be better for complete beginners."
"Probably only useful for someone who has never thought about creativity before."
Helps change how you approach challenges
"The modules on shifting perspective and using fantasy were eye-opening."
"Absolutely loved this course! It's made me more aware of my own creative process."
"The module on 'Break Through Boundaries' was particularly useful for my work projects."
Provides practical tools for everyday use
"The activities were engaging and made me think in new ways."
"A great introductory course. It provides practical techniques you can use right away."
"It reinforces good habits and gives you tools to practice."
May be too basic for experienced learners
"Some concepts felt a bit simple if you've already read about creativity."
"Found this course too basic and repetitive."
"solid foundation, though I wish it went into a bit more depth on combining ideas."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Ignite Your Everyday Creativity with these activities:
Take a pre-course quiz on creative thinking
This activity will help you assess your current level of creative thinking skills and identify areas where you can improve.
Browse courses on Creative Thinking
Show steps
  • Find a pre-course quiz on creative thinking.
  • Take the quiz and answer the questions to the best of your ability.
  • Review your results and identify areas where you need to strengthen your skills.
Review past notes and learning material
This activity will help you get a solid foundation of the concepts presented in this course by reviewing previously studied related materials.
Browse courses on Creativity
Show steps
  • Gather your notes and resources from previous courses or experiences related to creativity.
  • Review key concepts, theories, and principles related to creativity.
  • Identify areas where you need further clarification or reinforcement.
Read 'A Pocket Guide to Creative Thinking' by Bryan Lawson
This book provides a concise and practical guide to the creative thinking process, with techniques and exercises to help you develop your own creative abilities.
View How Designers Think on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read through the book, taking notes on key concepts and techniques.
  • Apply the techniques to your own creative projects or challenges.
  • Discuss the book's ideas with others to gain different perspectives.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Follow online tutorials on specific creativity techniques
This activity will allow you to learn specific creativity techniques and strategies that you can apply to your own work.
Browse courses on Creative Techniques
Show steps
  • Identify a specific creativity technique or strategy that you want to learn.
  • Find online tutorials or resources that teach the technique.
  • Follow the instructions in the tutorials and practice applying the technique.
Complete creativity exercises and challenges
This activity will help you develop your creativity skills by practicing different creativity exercises and challenges.
Browse courses on Problem-Solving
Show steps
  • Find a creativity exercise or challenge that interests you.
  • Follow the instructions and complete the exercise or challenge.
  • Reflect on your results and identify areas where you can improve your creativity.
Join a study group or online community for creatives
This activity will provide you with opportunities to connect with other creatives, share ideas, and get feedback on your work.
Browse courses on Online Communities
Show steps
  • Find a study group or online community that focuses on creativity.
  • Introduce yourself and share your work with the group.
  • Participate in discussions, workshops, or other activities organized by the group.
Develop a creative project or portfolio
This activity will allow you to apply your creativity skills to a real-world project and showcase your work to others.
Show steps
  • Identify a creative project or portfolio that you want to develop.
  • Brainstorm ideas and develop a plan for your project.
  • Create and execute your project.
  • Share your project with others and get feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Ignite Your Everyday Creativity will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Art Director
As an Art Director, you will be leading visual concepts for marketing and advertising campaigns. To be successful, you must be able to come up with new and innovative ideas on a regular basis. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the creative thinking skills you need to excel in this role. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into context. This course can also help you develop the communication and presentation skills essential for success as an Art Director.
Creative Director
In this role, you will be responsible for overseeing the creative vision of a company or organization. Creative Directors need to be able to think strategically and creatively to develop and execute successful marketing campaigns. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course will help you develop essential skills for this role. You will learn how to identify creative opportunities, develop creative briefs, and manage creative teams. The course will also help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and problem-solving.
Innovation Consultant
As an Innovation Consultant, you will be helping businesses develop and implement new ideas. This role requires a deep understanding of innovation processes and creative thinking techniques. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into practice. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creativity and innovation that will be invaluable in this role.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers oversee the planning and execution of marketing campaigns. In this role, you will need to be able to think creatively to develop and implement new strategies. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to excel as a Marketing Manager. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into action. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and problem-solving essential for success in this role.
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. This role requires a deep understanding of customer needs and creative thinking to develop new and innovative products. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into action. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and problem-solving.
UX Designer
UX Designers are responsible for the user experience of websites and applications. In this role, you will need to be able to think creatively to develop user-friendly and engaging interfaces. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a UX Designer. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into action. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and problem-solving.
Writer
Writers create written content, such as articles, stories, and marketing copy. In this role, you will need to be able to think creatively to develop new and engaging content. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Writer. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into words. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and writing.
Graphic designer
Graphic Designers create visual content, such as logos, posters, and websites. In this role, you will need to be able to think creatively to develop visually appealing and effective designs. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Graphic Designer. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into visual form. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and design principles.
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses. In this role, you will need to be able to think creatively to develop new products and services. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as an Entrepreneur. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into action. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and problem-solving essential for success in this role.
Teacher
Teachers create and deliver lesson plans to students. In this role, you will need to be able to think creatively to develop engaging and effective lesson plans. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Teacher. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into action. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and lesson planning.
Consultant
Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses and organizations. In this role, you will need to be able to think creatively to develop new solutions to problems. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Consultant. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into action. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and problem-solving essential for success in this role.
Researcher
Researchers conduct research to answer questions and develop new knowledge. In this role, you will need to be able to think creatively to develop new research questions and design new research studies. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Researcher. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into action. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and research methods.
Artist
Artists create works of art, such as paintings, sculptures, and music. In this role, you will need to be able to think creatively to develop new and innovative works of art. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as an Artist. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into creative form. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and artistic expression.
Therapist
Therapists help people with mental health issues. In this role, you will need to be able to think creatively to develop new and innovative treatment plans. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Therapist. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into action. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and problem-solving essential for success in this role.
Social Worker
Social Workers help people with social problems. In this role, you will need to be able to think creatively to develop new and innovative solutions to problems. The Ignite Your Everyday Creativity course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Social Worker. You will learn how to generate new ideas, think outside the box, and put your ideas into action. The course will help you build a strong foundation in creative thinking and problem-solving essential for success in this role.

Reading list

We've selected 27 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Ignite Your Everyday Creativity.
Provides a comprehensive overview of creativity and how it can be applied to different aspects of life. It includes practical exercises and tips that can help readers develop their creative skills.
Provides an inside look at the creative process at Pixar Animation Studios. It offers insights into how to create a culture of innovation and foster creativity.
Explores the different types of thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for creativity. It provides practical tips and exercises that can help you develop these skills.
Offers a practical guide to developing a creative habit. It provides exercises and tips that can help you generate new ideas and solve problems in a creative way.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the innovation process. It covers topics such as idea generation, prototyping, and testing. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about innovation.
Explores the different ways that the human brain processes information and how this affects creativity. It argues that in the 21st century, creativity will be more important than ever before.
Provides a practical guide to product development. It covers topics such as user research, product strategy, and product road mapping.
Provides a step-by-step guide to developing and launching a minimum viable product (MVP). It offers tips and advice on how to get feedback from customers and iterate on your product.
Provides a roadmap for implementing the lean startup approach within an organization. It offers tools and techniques that can help you create a culture of innovation.
Tells the story of Bell Labs, one of the most successful research and development centers in history. It provides insights into the creative process and how it can be fostered in an organizational setting.
Provides valuable insights into the nature of creativity and how it can be developed. It good read for anyone interested in learning more about creativity.
Provides a practical guide to design thinking, a human-centered approach to innovation. It offers tools and techniques that can help you solve problems and create new products and services.
Provides a practical guide to getting customers for your startup. It offers tips and advice on how to develop a marketing and sales strategy.
Explores the challenges that established companies face when they try to innovate. It provides insights into how to overcome these challenges and create a culture of innovation.
Explains why large companies often fail to innovate. It provides a framework for understanding the challenges of innovation and how to overcome them.
Provides a step-by-step guide to developing and launching a successful startup. It emphasizes the importance of experimentation and iteration in the creative process.
Offers practical advice on how to develop and maintain a creative habit. It includes exercises and tips that can help readers overcome creative blocks and generate new ideas.
Provides a motivational guide to overcoming the challenges of creativity. It offers insights into the psychology of creativity and how to find the courage to express yourself.
Provides inspiration and encouragement for anyone who wants to pursue their creative dreams. It offers a personal and anecdotal account of the creative process and how to overcome the fear of failure.
Provides a structured approach to developing creativity. It includes exercises and meditations that can help readers connect with their inner artist and overcome creative blocks.
Provides a humorous and irreverent look at the creative process. It offers tips and advice on how to find inspiration and develop your own unique style.
Provides a scientific exploration of the creative process. It explains the role of the brain in creativity and how creativity can be fostered and enhanced.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the psychology of creativity. It explores the different factors that contribute to creativity and how creativity can be cultivated.
Provides a framework for understanding the five skills of disruptive innovators. It offers insights into how these skills can be developed and applied to create successful businesses.
Provides a practical guide to the design of everyday objects. It offers insights into the principles of design and how they can be applied to create products that are both functional and user-friendly.

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