COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
CERTIFICATE IN TEACHING
Name: Haizille Kazandra B. Sarboda CIT 1-A
Topic: Problem Solving and Creativity Subject: EDUC-8
Problem Solving and Creativity
1. Introduction
What is Problem Solving?
• A state of desire for reaching a define ‘goal’ from a present condition that either is not directly
moving toward the goal, is far from it, or needs more complex logic for finding a missing
description of conditions or steps toward the goal.
What is Creativity?
• Creativity is a distinguishing characteristic of human excellence in every area of behavior.
• Learning Outcomes:
• Explain the four Criteria of creativity by Torrance
• Practice creative thinking
• Apply problem solving skills
EDWARD PAUL TORRANCE
• Known as the ‘’Father of Creativity” for his nearly 60 years of research that became the
framework for the field of gifted education.
• He was professor emeritus of educational psychology
• He invented the benchmark method for quantifying creativity
EDWARD PAUL TORRANCE
• The ‘’ Torrance Test of Creative Thinking’’ helped shatter the theory that IQ tests alone
were sufficient to gauge real intelligence. The tests solidified what heretofore was only
Conceptual- namely that creative levels can be scaled and increased through practice.
TORRANCE FRAME WORK FOR CREATIVE
THINGKING
Fluency
*refers to the production of a great number of ideas or alternate solutions to a problem.
Fluency implies understanding, not just remembering information that is learned.
Key words
Compare, convert, count, define,
describe, explain, identify, label,
list, match, name, outline,
paraphrase, predict, summarize
Example: Apple, blood, brick, caboose, cherry, Christmas stocking,
exit sign, fire alarm, heart, tomato.
TORRANCE FRAMEWORK CREATIVE THINKING
Flexibility
*refers to the production of ideas that show a variety of possibilities or realms of thought. It involves
the ability to see things from different point of view and to use many different approaches or
strategies.
Red fruit Red safety features Red vehicles
apple exit sign caboose
cherry fire alarm fire truck
raspberry stop sign tricycle
tomatoe tail lights wagon
* Elaboration
*Elaboration is the process of enhancing ideas by providing more detail.
Additional detail and clarity improves interest in, and understanding of, the topic.
Key words
Appraise, critique, determine,
evaluate, grade, judge, measure,
select, test.
Application ideas
Tell your neighbor about your last family trip
using as many details as possible.
What can you add to_______ to improve its
quality or performance?
Describe all the possible characteristics of
the red quality in a wagon
Example: Shade, finish, texture, uniformity.
*Originality
*Originality involves the production of ideas that are unique or unusual.
It involves synthesis or putting information about a topic back together in a new way.
Application ideas
Find an original use for_________.
What would be the strangest way to get out
of bed?
Design a new___________ that is better than
the one you have
Write an unusual title for the ideas about red.
Example: Revolutionary "Red" Representation.
CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
Is an intentional process for solving and problems and discussing opportunities.
It espouses the use of creativity in the 1950’s Alex Osborn described this process in his book,
Applied Imagination.
Osborn opened the process in the public domain which mean anyone can use it.
Over the years countless people have utilized the CPS in various fields and endeavors.
The following, based on Van Gundy (1988’s) description, is a very brief skeleton of
a very rich process, showing it in its full ‘6 x 2’ stages form:
1. MESS FINDING
Sensitise yourself (scan, search) for issues (concerns, challenges, opportunities etc.) that need to be
tackled.
Divergent techniques include ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice If…’ (WIBNI) and ‘Wouldn’t It Be Awful
If…’ (WIBAI) – brainstorming to identify desirable outcomes, and obstacles to be overcome.
Convergent techniques include the identification of hotspots (Highlighting), expressed as a list
of IWWMs (‘In What Ways Might…’), and selection in terms of ownership criteria (e.g.
problem-owner’s motivation and ability to influence it) and outlook criteria (e.g. urgency,
familiarity, stability).
1. DATA FINDING
Gather information about the problem
Divergent techniques include Five Ws and H (Who, Why, What, When, Where and How) and
listing of wants, sources and data: List all your information ‘wants’ as a series of question; for
each, list possible sources of answers; then follow these up and for each source, list what you
found.
Convergent techniques again include: identifying hotspots (Highlighting); Mind-mapping to sort
and classify the information gathered; and also restating the problem in the light of your richer
understanding of it.
2. PROBLEM FINDING
Convert a fuzzy statement of the problem into a broad statement more suitable for idea finding.
Divergent techniques include asking ‘Why?’ etc. – the repeatable questions and Five Ws and H.
Convergent techniques include Highlighting again, reformulation of problem-statements to meet the
criteria that they contain only one problem and no criteria, and selection of the most promising
statement (but NB that the mental ‘stretching’ that the activity gives to the participants can be as
important as the actual statement chosen)
3. IDEA FINDING
enerate as many ideas as possible.
Divergence using any of a very wide range of idea-generating techniques. The general rules of
classical brainstorming (such as deferring judgement) are likely to under-pin all of these.
Convergence can again involve hotspots or mind-mapping, the combining of different ideas, and
the short-listing of the most promising handful, perhaps with some thought for the more obvious
evaluation criteria, but not over-restrictively
SOLUTION FINDING
Generate and select obvious evaluation criteria (using an expansion/contraction cycle) and
develop (which may include combining) the short-listed ideas from Idea Finding as much as
you can in the light of these criteria. Then opt for the best of these improved ideas (e.g. using
Comparison tables).
REFLECTION
Creativity and Problem solving or CPS, refers to the use of imagination and innovation to find
solution to problems when formula or conventional processes have failed. Despite its dry definition
creative problem-solving in its application can be a lot of fun for learners and teachers alike.
