{"id":41,"date":"2018-09-28T15:14:03","date_gmt":"2018-09-28T15:14:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-esc-educationalplanning\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=41"},"modified":"2022-06-27T17:37:24","modified_gmt":"2022-06-27T17:37:24","slug":"critical-creative-thinking","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-esc-educationalplanning\/chapter\/critical-creative-thinking\/","title":{"raw":"Lateral &amp; Creative Thinking","rendered":"Lateral &amp; Creative Thinking"},"content":{"raw":"<h2>Introduction<\/h2>\r\nLateral and creative thinking work hand-in-hand with critical thinking as we solve problems.\u00a0 Lateral thinking offers a somewhat structured way to generate new ideas, while creative thinking opens the door to all possibilities.\u00a0 While critical thinking is needed in identifying and starting to solve problems, lateral and creative thinking help generate multiple, different, and often unexpected solutions.\r\n<h2>Lateral Thinking<\/h2>\r\nOne way to deal with assumptions and problem-solving is to develop your lateral thinking skills.\u00a0Lateral thinking includes a conscious generation of alternative solutions, and a conscious questioning of assumptions.\r\n\r\nRead the\u00a0article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career-advice\/career-development\/lateral-thinking#:~:text=What%20is%20lateral%20thinking%3F,creatively%20to%20solve%20complex%20challenges.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lateral Thinking Skills<\/a> and watch the following video on lateral thinking.\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CxbB0DAlx7c[\/embed]\r\n\r\nHow can we think laterally, when our brains are programmed to think in terms of patterns and linear movement from point A to point B?\u00a0 Play on that proclivity for patterns and apply a pattern to help you think outside of the box.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>On a sheet of paper, make three columns.\u00a0 Title the first \u201cpositives,\u201d the second \u201cnegatives,\u201d and the third \u201cinteresting.\u201d<\/li>\r\n \t<li>List out the positives, the negatives, and what\u2019s interesting about the following situation: What if all cars were painted yellow?\u00a0 What would be positive, negative and interesting about this situation?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nCritical and Lateral Thinking are about being proactive in identifying assumptions and biases, and about using reasoning and your own insights to make decisions. Lateral thinking actually bridges critical and creative thinking, and provides an additional way in which we can consider information.\r\n\r\nWhat is a problem that you have in your life right now that you can use lateral thinking to solve? Create a chart with the positives, negatives and interesting points for yourself.\r\n<h2>Creative Thinking<\/h2>\r\nCreative thinking helps you solve problems in unexpected or new ways.\r\n\r\nRead the article on <a href=\"https:\/\/inkbotdesign.com\/creative-thinking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What is Creative Thinking?<\/a> and view the videos below for a fuller definition of creative thinking.\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1xWa3Ok2e94[\/embed]\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mp-Jj6BBkzM[\/embed]\r\n\r\nOne really interesting example of creative thinking deals with a solution to dementia and Alzheimer's patients wandering off. You can listen to a podcast explaining this creative solution, or read the text of the podcast on the page entitled\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wnycstudios.org\/story\/91948-the-bus-stop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Bus Stop<\/a>. Then read a reflection on this solution from a medical student\u00a0in the blog post, <a href=\"http:\/\/in-training.org\/wait-6733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Wait for the Bus<\/a>.\r\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\r\n<h3>initial activity<\/h3>\r\nApply lateral and creative thinking to the scenario in the following video:\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/6jSw6mij-EI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Training Video: When the Phone Rings. (Example of poor receptionist skills.)<\/a><\/p>\r\nAfter viewing the video, apply lateral and creative thinking skills to the situation.\u00a0 Put yourself in the role of supervisor of this employee, the woman who left at the start of the video.\u00a0 The boss mentioned to you the assistant's lack of appropriate protocol in taking messages and his need to apologize to the client. You need to relay the information to the assistant so that it does not happen again.\u00a0 Instead of simply focusing on the negative and giving her a rebuke, consider the positive and interesting aspects of this employee and the situation (you've already identified the negative). How can you use the positive and interesting aspects of the employee's behavior to help her develop into a stronger administrative professional?\u00a0 More generally, what creative actions can you take to train newer employees and ensure that a situation like this does not happen again?\r\n\r\nWrite a brief analysis\u00a0(3-4 pages) applying lateral and creative thinking skills to this situation.\r\n\r\n<strong>Submit:<\/strong> analysis\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\r\n<h3>in-depth activity<\/h3>\r\nChoose <strong><em>one<\/em><\/strong> of the following options.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Option 1<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRead the article \"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/experimentations\/201802\/your-brain-creativity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Your Brain on Creativity<\/a>\" from <em>Psychology Today<\/em>.\r\n\r\nApply lateral and creative thinking concepts to consider how the information in this article might be presented in an alternative, perhaps divergent way.\u00a0 Then create that presentation, to represent the main ideas from the article in another way.\r\n\r\n<strong>Submit:<\/strong> the presentation\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Option 2<\/strong>\r\n\r\nIdentify a problem at work or with a community group.\u00a0 Apply concepts and strategies of lateral and creative thinking, and generate at least 4 potential alternative solutions to the problem, solutions that are not the obvious ones, solutions that are \"outside the box.\"\r\n\r\n<strong>Submit:<\/strong> a written proposal offering these solutions.\u00a0 Include the following sections in the proposal:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>statement of problem<\/li>\r\n \t<li>discussion of why the obvious solution is not the best<\/li>\r\n \t<li>presentation of alternative solutions with reasons why they are better than the obvious solution<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\r\n<h3>interested in learning more about creative thinking?<\/h3>\r\nYou may want to read a relatively short book chapter on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sagepub.com\/sites\/default\/files\/upm-binaries\/32693_Chapter1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creative Approaches to Problem Solving<\/a>.\r\n\r\nYou may want to consider taking courses in:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Creativity Across the Disciplines<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Creativity in the World Around Us<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Psychology of Creativity<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Related college Learning Goals<\/h3>\r\n<strong>Communication:<\/strong> Express and receive ideas effectively, in multiple contexts and through multiple strategies.\r\n\r\n<strong>Critical Thinking and Problem Solving:<\/strong> Evaluate, analyze, synthesize and critique key concepts and experiences, and apply diverse perspectives to find creative solutions to problems concerning human behavior, society and the natural world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"font-size: small;\">For more information, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esc.edu\/policies\/?search=cid%3D61278\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">College Learning Goals Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<h2>Introduction<\/h2>\n<p>Lateral and creative thinking work hand-in-hand with critical thinking as we solve problems.\u00a0 Lateral thinking offers a somewhat structured way to generate new ideas, while creative thinking opens the door to all possibilities.\u00a0 While critical thinking is needed in identifying and starting to solve problems, lateral and creative thinking help generate multiple, different, and often unexpected solutions.<\/p>\n<h2>Lateral Thinking<\/h2>\n<p>One way to deal with assumptions and problem-solving is to develop your lateral thinking skills.\u00a0Lateral thinking includes a conscious generation of alternative solutions, and a conscious questioning of assumptions.<\/p>\n<p>Read the\u00a0article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career-advice\/career-development\/lateral-thinking#:~:text=What%20is%20lateral%20thinking%3F,creatively%20to%20solve%20complex%20challenges.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lateral Thinking Skills<\/a> and watch the following video on lateral thinking.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"oembed-1\" title=\"Lateral Thinking: Generate Brilliant Ideas\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CxbB0DAlx7c?feature=oembed&#38;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>How can we think laterally, when our brains are programmed to think in terms of patterns and linear movement from point A to point B?\u00a0 Play on that proclivity for patterns and apply a pattern to help you think outside of the box.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>On a sheet of paper, make three columns.\u00a0 Title the first \u201cpositives,\u201d the second \u201cnegatives,\u201d and the third \u201cinteresting.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>List out the positives, the negatives, and what\u2019s interesting about the following situation: What if all cars were painted yellow?\u00a0 What would be positive, negative and interesting about this situation?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Critical and Lateral Thinking are about being proactive in identifying assumptions and biases, and about using reasoning and your own insights to make decisions. Lateral thinking actually bridges critical and creative thinking, and provides an additional way in which we can consider information.<\/p>\n<p>What is a problem that you have in your life right now that you can use lateral thinking to solve? Create a chart with the positives, negatives and interesting points for yourself.<\/p>\n<h2>Creative Thinking<\/h2>\n<p>Creative thinking helps you solve problems in unexpected or new ways.<\/p>\n<p>Read the article on <a href=\"https:\/\/inkbotdesign.com\/creative-thinking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What is Creative Thinking?<\/a> and view the videos below for a fuller definition of creative thinking.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"oembed-2\" title=\"Trick Your Mind into Being Creative | Aadil Vora | TEDxNSU\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1xWa3Ok2e94?feature=oembed&#38;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"oembed-3\" title=\"Tina Seelig: Challenge Assumptions\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mp-Jj6BBkzM?feature=oembed&#38;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>One really interesting example of creative thinking deals with a solution to dementia and Alzheimer&#8217;s patients wandering off. You can listen to a podcast explaining this creative solution, or read the text of the podcast on the page entitled\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wnycstudios.org\/story\/91948-the-bus-stop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Bus Stop<\/a>. Then read a reflection on this solution from a medical student\u00a0in the blog post, <a href=\"http:\/\/in-training.org\/wait-6733\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Wait for the Bus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\n<h3>initial activity<\/h3>\n<p>Apply lateral and creative thinking to the scenario in the following video:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/6jSw6mij-EI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Training Video: When the Phone Rings. (Example of poor receptionist skills.)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>After viewing the video, apply lateral and creative thinking skills to the situation.\u00a0 Put yourself in the role of supervisor of this employee, the woman who left at the start of the video.\u00a0 The boss mentioned to you the assistant&#8217;s lack of appropriate protocol in taking messages and his need to apologize to the client. You need to relay the information to the assistant so that it does not happen again.\u00a0 Instead of simply focusing on the negative and giving her a rebuke, consider the positive and interesting aspects of this employee and the situation (you&#8217;ve already identified the negative). How can you use the positive and interesting aspects of the employee&#8217;s behavior to help her develop into a stronger administrative professional?\u00a0 More generally, what creative actions can you take to train newer employees and ensure that a situation like this does not happen again?<\/p>\n<p>Write a brief analysis\u00a0(3-4 pages) applying lateral and creative thinking skills to this situation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Submit:<\/strong> analysis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\n<h3>in-depth activity<\/h3>\n<p>Choose <strong><em>one<\/em><\/strong> of the following options.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Option 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Read the article &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/experimentations\/201802\/your-brain-creativity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Your Brain on Creativity<\/a>&#8221; from <em>Psychology Today<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Apply lateral and creative thinking concepts to consider how the information in this article might be presented in an alternative, perhaps divergent way.\u00a0 Then create that presentation, to represent the main ideas from the article in another way.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Submit:<\/strong> the presentation<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Option 2<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Identify a problem at work or with a community group.\u00a0 Apply concepts and strategies of lateral and creative thinking, and generate at least 4 potential alternative solutions to the problem, solutions that are not the obvious ones, solutions that are &#8220;outside the box.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Submit:<\/strong> a written proposal offering these solutions.\u00a0 Include the following sections in the proposal:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>statement of problem<\/li>\n<li>discussion of why the obvious solution is not the best<\/li>\n<li>presentation of alternative solutions with reasons why they are better than the obvious solution<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\n<h3>interested in learning more about creative thinking?<\/h3>\n<p>You may want to read a relatively short book chapter on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sagepub.com\/sites\/default\/files\/upm-binaries\/32693_Chapter1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creative Approaches to Problem Solving<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You may want to consider taking courses in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Creativity Across the Disciplines<\/li>\n<li>Creativity in the World Around Us<\/li>\n<li>Psychology of Creativity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Related college Learning Goals<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Communication:<\/strong> Express and receive ideas effectively, in multiple contexts and through multiple strategies.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Critical Thinking and Problem Solving:<\/strong> Evaluate, analyze, synthesize and critique key concepts and experiences, and apply diverse perspectives to find creative solutions to problems concerning human behavior, society and the natural world.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: small;\">For more information, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esc.edu\/policies\/?search=cid%3D61278\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">College Learning Goals Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-41\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Lateral &amp; Creative Thinking. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Susan Oaks; adapted from team work by Nan Travers (lead), Cathy Davison, Elaine Handley, Linda Jones, Jessica Kindred, Gohar Marikyan, Lynette Nickleberry, Susan Oaks, Eileen O&#039;Connor. <strong>Project<\/strong>: Educational Planning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>video Lateral Thinking: Generate Brilliant Ideas. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Blahzinga. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CxbB0DAlx7c\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CxbB0DAlx7c<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>Other<\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: YouTube video<\/li><li>video Trick Your Mind into Being Creative. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Aadil Vora. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1xWa3Ok2e94\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1xWa3Ok2e94<\/a>. <strong>Project<\/strong>: TEDx Talks. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>Other<\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: YouTube video<\/li><li>video Tina Seelig: Challenge Assumptions. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Tina Seelig. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Stanford eCorner, Stanford Technology Ventures Program. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mp-Jj6BBkzM\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mp-Jj6BBkzM<\/a>. <strong>Project<\/strong>: TEDx Talks. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>Other<\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: YouTube video<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":81366,"menu_order":2,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"video Lateral Thinking: Generate Brilliant Ideas\",\"author\":\"Blahzinga\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CxbB0DAlx7c\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"other\",\"license_terms\":\"YouTube video\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"video Trick Your Mind into Being Creative\",\"author\":\"Aadil Vora\",\"organization\":\"Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1xWa3Ok2e94\",\"project\":\"TEDx Talks\",\"license\":\"other\",\"license_terms\":\"YouTube video\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"video Tina Seelig: Challenge Assumptions\",\"author\":\"Tina Seelig\",\"organization\":\"Stanford eCorner, Stanford Technology Ventures Program\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mp-Jj6BBkzM\",\"project\":\"TEDx Talks\",\"license\":\"other\",\"license_terms\":\"YouTube video\"},{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Lateral & Creative Thinking\",\"author\":\"Susan Oaks; 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