8.1 Lower-Level
(Remembering: Define, List)
Define creativity and list three strategies for fostering creativity
8.2 Higher-Level Thinking
(Analyzing: Differentiate, Compare, Select; Evaluating: Support, Select, Justify)
Differentiate between convergent thinking and divergent thinking and
choose which type of creative thinking is more beneficial to learning.
Support your answer by providing an example of how each type of thinking
can be used in problem solving processes. Using this example, justify
why one type of creative thinking is more useful than the other to the
learning process.
8.1
ReplyDeleteAlthough definitions of creativity vary, it is generally accepted that creativity involves a new or original behavior, or a productive result. This is a lowewr level thinking question because I can pull my answers directly from the text. The three strategies are focusing on inernal rewards, giving students the freedom and security to take risks, and providing the time that creativity requires.
8.2 Higher Level Thinking.
Divergent thinking starts with an idea and branches outwards. Divergent thinking is more associated with creativity than divergent thinking. Convergent thinking, on the other hand, is the process of pulling together several pieces of information together to solve a problem or draw a conclusion. I associate critical thinking with divergent thinking - pulling together pieces of information to form an argument, analyzing and looking at the pieces in relation to one another, generally making a decision based on the analysis. These are are all things that I associate with critical thinking. While convergent thinking may be an important thinking process, it is not very helpful in inspiring creativity. In reality, there is usually more than one answer to a problem. Being able to think "outside" of the box is more in line with divergent thinking. Divergent thinking allows for almost infinite originality. Students can come up with orignial ideas and products using divergent thinking, and so divergent thinking is more useful to thinking creatively than convergent thinking.
This question is certainly higher-level. It requires you to evaluate and to suport your answer. This does seem like it asks alot of different types of questions in one. It is hard to analyze because it is really asking many different things. Also, are divergent and convergent thinking both associated with creativity at all? I thought that only divergent thinking was a strategy that fostered creativity.