Introduction to Creative Thinking: Tools for Success

Imperial College London via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/introduction-to-creative-thinking

Introduction

# Course Review: Introduction to Creative Thinking: Tools for Success on Coursera In today’s fast-paced and constantly evolving world, the ability to think creatively is more crucial than ever. The course "Introduction to Creative Thinking: Tools for Success" on Coursera offers an insightful exploration of creativity, equipping learners with essential tools and techniques to harness innovative thinking. This review will provide an overview of the course content, structure, and its potential benefits, ultimately affirming the recommendation for those looking to enhance their creative capabilities. ## Overview of the Course This course underscores the significance of creativity not only in the business context but also in addressing global challenges. It emphasizes that creativity drives transformation and innovation, which are essential for progress in both personal and professional realms. The curriculum is designed to offer an implicit understanding of creativity, along with practical tools that can be implemented in various scenarios. ## Weekly Breakdown ### **Week 1: Understanding Creative Principles** The course kicks off by establishing the foundational principles of creativity. The introduction of the Creativity Diamond framework sets the stage for identifying appropriate approaches to creativity in various contexts. This week aims to enlighten students about the role creativity plays in meeting the demands of global issues. ### **Week 2: Levels and Types of Creativity** In the second week, participants explore different levels of creativity and its impact on society. The course delves into several definitions and classifications of creativity, allowing learners to begin assessing their own creative capabilities. This foundational knowledge is crucial in developing a nuanced understanding of the subject. ### **Week 3: Cognitive Aspects of Creativity** Understanding the brain’s role in creativity is essential for unlocking creative potential. In this week, insights into the cognitive processes of thinking, memory, and cognition are shared. This clarity on how thoughts lead to ideas enhances the learner's ability to engage in creative acts. ### **Week 4: Brainstorming Techniques** Focusing on one of the most effective techniques for idea generation, the fourth week introduces various brainstorming methods. Participants will gain hands-on experience with brainstorming tools that can be applied to real-world problems, fostering collaborative creativity. ### **Week 5: Exploring Brainstorming Variants** The course progresses to introduce diverse forms of brainstorming such as grid and alphabet brainstorming. These structured approaches encourage students to think outside the box by leveraging prompts and frameworks that propel idea generation. ### **Week 6: Integrating Creativity into Practice** The final week pulls together all previously discussed concepts, emphasizing the importance of the individual, environment, and physiological aspects in the creative process. Learners are encouraged to reflect on their journey and apply the insights gained through the Creativity Diamond framework. ## Why You Should Enroll 1. **Practical Skills**: This course provides actionable tools and techniques that can be immediately implemented in both personal and professional settings, making it a pragmatic choice for anyone looking to boost their creativity. 2. **Comprehensive Framework**: The Creativity Diamond framework acts as a stellar guide throughout the course, enhancing the learning experience and helping to organize thoughts systematically around creativity. 3. **Accessibility**: The course is designed to cater to a broad audience, regardless of your background or prior knowledge of creativity. Whether you’re a business professional, educator, or simply someone looking to think differently, this course is accessible and beneficial. 4. **Engaging Content**: The weekly breakdown ensures enjoyable learning with a variety of activities and explorations into interesting and relevant topics, which keeps participants engaged and motivated. ## Conclusion "Introduction to Creative Thinking: Tools for Success" is a well-structured and thoughtfully designed course recognized for its practical impact on developing creative thinking skills. By equipping learners with a robust framework and practical techniques, this Coursera offering stands out as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to enhance their creativity. I highly recommend enrolling in this course to unlock your creative potential and navigate both personal challenges and opportunities with renewed confidence.

Syllabus

Week 1

In the first week, we focus on the basic principles of creativity and highlight its importance in tackling global challenges. A framework called the Creativity Diamond is introduced that will be used throughout the course to help identify which approach to use for creativity and when.

Week 2

Creativity exists on many levels. There are examples of creativity that influence and transform society. There are also instances in our everyday lives when we come up with an idea to address a challenge or opportunity. This week we will explore some of the definitions and types of creativity, along with an introduction to assessing creativity.

Week 3

This week we will look at an introduction to the brain, the mind, thoughts and memory, thinking and cognition. Consideration of thinking is important as ideas encapsulate a fundamental outcome in creativity. Some approaches to thinking have been identified as helpful in augmenting creativity, and some of these tools and the associated principles are introduced.

Week 4

In this week, we will look at how we can augment our creativity using different methods of brainstorming, a creativity approach that aids the generation of ideas in solving a stated problem. We particularly focus on the application of brainstorming tools, with the aim of enabling you to understand, evaluate and apply different types of brainstorming techniques in your own context.

Week 5

There are a wide range of types of brainstorming. All are based on the principles of quantity breeds quality and suspending judgement of ideas. This week we will introduce two distinctive forms of brainstorming, grid and alphabet. In grid ideas are developed building from an initial concept. In alphabet brainstorming each letter of the alphabet is used as a prompt to illicit several ideas.

Week 6

This week we will consider additional views on creativity and the importance of the person, physiological aspects, process, the environment and the application in creativity. We will explore the divergent and convergent phases common to many creative processes whereby many ideas are explored in a divergent phase, prior to their refinement and filtering in a convergent phase. We will then draw this course to a close with consideration of some general guidance on creativity and illustrating how your learning so far can be applied within the creativity diamond framework.