Critical Friends Circle on Creative Problem-solving by Daniel Blackshields https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj en-us 2018-03-09 16:16:02 UTC 2024-04-10 12:08:45 UTC hello@padlet.com CRITICAL FRIENDS CIRCLE ON CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING dblackshields https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240233464 In our session on 9th March on Creative Problem-solving you explore creativity as a habit - a choice about your Dasein - your way of being-in-the world. Based on your experiences in the session with Dr. Chopra consider and address Ludwig Wittgenstein's assertion below by 

either: 

i) Reflecting on attempt that you have made THIS week in using at least one of the tools Jay shared with you to ' unlock a door' that has remained unlocked for you until now

Or 

ii) Reflecting on why you might have felt 'imprisoned' in your own 'mental' room in today's session in the sense of not really engaging (or feeling you had the courage to)  with the lived experiences offered in our session. 

Each participant should address Wittengenstein's assertion through one of the above AND respond to the address of at least one of your peers. 

The closing date for this, the last CFC padlet is 5pm Wednesday 14th March, 2018. 



]]> 2018-03-09 16:20:40 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240233464 Workplace Barrier https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240568676 After the session with Dr. Chopra on friday, I had to immediately go to work. While at work I made it a small goal of mine to use the reversal method that we learned from Dr. Chopra in my routine for the evening. I thought about what I needed to improve upon and listed out the things I could do to make that happen. The session really helped me see how I can brainstorm and problem solve in a more efficient way from now on. 
-Cian O Connor]]> 2018-03-11 14:17:36 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240568676 https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240649926 2018-03-11 23:18:13 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240649926 Every Idea has its merits and the worst idea could have the best merits. https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240649985 Only a day after the workshop with Jay I found myself using ]]> 2018-03-11 23:18:45 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240649985 Every idea has its merits and the worst idea could have the best merits https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240653315 (i) The next day after our session with Jay I found myself using some of the tools he shared with us. I just so happened to be planning a long-term goal of mine outside of academics this weekend with my mother. My mother gave me a suggestion on this long-term plan that I will need to become more involved with certain societies in college if I am to achieve that goal. The societies she suggested to me I found as daft suggestions and that there would be other alternatives applicable to me in the pursuit of my goal. However after listening to the advice from Jay I decided not to immediately dismiss my mother's idea and rather discuss her thoughts and perspective out with her so I could get a more clear idea what she was talking about. After teasing it out with her what I had initially remarked as a bad idea, was not as bad of an idea as I first thought. It had it's merits so I decided I would  look further into my mother's suggestion and see if it is feasible and beneficial when accounting in for other factors e.g. time. The point of the matter is every idea has it's merits and what may first seem as a bad idea to ones opinion might actually have the best merits.
Like Wittgenstein said sometimes it doesn't occur to people what they have to do e.g. to pull rather then push

In response to Cian I am glad he found the session as beneficial as I did with regards to using the reverse method to see what one could do better and I might just try this idea out for myself.

Bill Gaine

]]> 2018-03-11 23:45:05 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240653315 Making Changes to be more Creative https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240969505 From Fridays session with Dr. Jay I have been trying to be more diverse in the way I think and how I solve problems. Typically I follows processes to solve problems (using the bottom left part of my brain). The concept of sparking and fuelling ideas gave me a whole new perspective on interpreting ideas. On Monday I chose a different way to walk to college. This was a change of scenery for myself and my brain. I also met up with my group in the Creative Zone of the library to work on a group presentation. The relaxed environment of the creative zone made it easier to come up with new and different ideas for the presentation. The creative zone, like the different route to college, were both changes to what I am used to. Both led to changes in how in the way I thought that day. 
-Shane Barrett 
In response to Bill I think he made the point quite clear about the subjective bad ideas. As he has said sometimes the "bad" ideas may have the best merits. He also fuelled his mothers idea rather than dismissing it. ]]> 2018-03-12 16:23:06 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240969505 Reversal https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240972490 i) Since our session on 9th of March on creative problem-solving I have learned that in order to achieve true creativity that it must become an everyday habit in your life. I attempted to put this into motion myself over the weekend by brushing my teeth with my left (non dominant) hand and I must admit it felt rather strange, just as Jay said it would, but if I keep trying it out repetitively each day it might eventually not seem so strange and will ultimately become a natural everyday habit.
-Adam Walsh

My response to Shane Barrett:
I completely agree with you Shane, I believe a change in everyday scenery is important in order to get out of the old habits we are accustomed to so that we can grow and develop new habits to help us moving forward in life and something as simple as walking a different route to college each morning or doing work in a newdifferent environment can really help us achieve that goal.]]> 2018-03-12 16:27:26 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240972490 Analysing Problems Creatively (Jack Dillon) https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240985272

My response to part (i):


This week I was tasked with editing a video for the purpose of an assignment in the Economics (through Transformational Learning) module; EC1108.

The EC1108 module is titled; ‘Communicating Economic Reasoning’ and is lectured by Dr Aileen Murphy.

Initially, I had great difficulty with editing the video because I had no previous experience of editing. I struggled throughout last week to make any progress.

Finally, I managed to make considerable progress in editing this video over the weekend. This was thanks to the speech delivered by Dr Jay Chopra on Friday 9th March in the module; EC1109.

Dr Jay Chopra spoke about creative problem solving in this speech and ‘thinking outside the box’. In my way current way of being, I was stubborn and refused to attempt a number of alternative methods I could use to edit the video as I did not believe that they were effective.

After Dr Jay Chopra’s speech, I re-examined these different methods of editing and pleasantly discovered that they too had their merits.

I proceeded to use these alternative ways of editing to edit my video and experienced very little difficulty in accomplishing my objective.

Due to the success I personally gained form this experience I agree with Ludwig Wittgenstein’s quote about creative problem solving. 

I agree with Ludwig Wittgenstein’s quote about creative problem solving because indeed thinking alternatively or creatively such as ‘pushing’ as opposed to ‘pulling’ is what solved the problem I had.

- Jack Dillon

]]> 2018-03-12 16:47:58 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240985272 The Impact of Jay Chopra's Speech (Jack Dillon) https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240988687
My response to Cian O'Connor's comment:


In my opinion Cian, your Padlet entry is testament to the impact of Dr Jay Chopra’s speech. 

The methods of creative problem-solving Dr Jay Chopra described in his speech were so effective in the classroom that you decided to immediately enact these methods in your place of work.

This response to the lecture is much the same as mine in regards to editing a video for the module; EC1108. (I described my own response to this lecture in a separate Padlet entry).

- Jack Dillon

]]> 2018-03-12 16:52:58 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/240988687 Avoiding instant judgment -Mark Healy https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241112271 Front our session last Friday we were taught to listen to every idea. By allowing every option to be heard no matter how crazy it may first sound, opens up more options on a project than maybe first believed. This allows people to explore their limits and be creative on topics. 
My response to Cian entry would be that I agree the reversal method. It has widened our understanding of how to approach problem solving projects. 
Mark Healy ]]> 2018-03-12 20:33:06 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241112271 Unlocking the door (Nathan Walsh https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241149838 After Friday's session i found myself at home looking at a blank feedback form for our GAA progress for the past year. It was the last night before it had to be sent in and the last week there had not been one word written due to the fact I didn't know where to start. but after Jay Chopra's speech, I was able to make the start i needed and finish it within the hour. This was due to the fact for the past week i had been sat at the table doing what I had always done trying to think harder but after Jays chat I realised that this was one of the worst way to create ideas and so i was able to use methods such as the wildest idea that led me to my to create a starting point. 

In response to Adam I completely agree
 that in order to achieve true creativity it must become an everyday habit and like Adam I used my non dominant had brushing my teeth and it felt incredibly strange ]]> 2018-03-12 23:09:13 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241149838 Embracing new ideas https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241386734 This week I made a conscious effort to change a few habits. After the session on Friday, I noticed I do most things using my left hand so I decided to change this. Also, I hadn’t noticed, until recently, how much of a rushed routine getting ready for college in the morning was. So, to give myself more time to get organised, I decided to start getting up 15 minutes earlier. I had fallen into a bad routine but this has helped as now my mornings aren’t as chaotic. I also remembered Jay saying that we tend to dismiss ideas on instinct so now I aim to embrace new ideas and make positive changes. I agree with Wittgenstein’s assertion and I’ve realised how important it is to challenge yourself. 
-Eilis Daly

In response to Bill Gaine; I'm happy he's taking steps, outside of his comfort zone, to achieve a long term goal and that he's embracing ideas even when his initial instinct was to dismiss it. Sometimes these ideas have the biggest positive impact.

]]> 2018-03-13 14:10:59 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241386734 The old way isn’t always the best way https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241550928 This week I have found myself breaking old habits with regards to how I approach social situations. I have made a conscious effort to speak to people in my place of work with whom I had never had a proper conversation with before; perhaps due to sheer timing reasons, or my own unfounded preconceptions about them.

I found last weeks session to be a generally mind-broadening experience. I now realise that even if you don’t warm to someone at the outset, that everyone is the way they are for a reason and sometimes it’s better to look at things from their perspective and seek to understand them rather than simply keeping contact with them to an absolute minimum.

This new approach will undoubtedly improve my teamwork skills and better prepare me for the workplace. 

- Ian Smith

In response to Shane Barrett:

I completely agree with you Shane, sometimes a change of scenery or a change in perspective can do wonders for our creativity and our way of being. ]]> 2018-03-13 18:06:48 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241550928 Out with the old https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241591030 Following our session on Friday with Dr.Chopra I decided to implement his technique of reversal immediately by simply taking a different route home from college. For the rest of the evening I did everything that I would normally do but I did it using this reversal method including holding my toothbrush with my left hand and texting with my left hand. Initially this felt very strange but made me realise that there is more than one way to go about doing things and in order to become a creative problem solver you must explore different ways of doing daily activities and not get stuck in the same pattern  of doing these things as you will not be able to cope with problems as effectively when they arise.
- Donal Sheehan
My response to Adam Walsh: I agree, in order to achieve true creativity it must become an everyday habit as you can't suddenly become a creative problem solver when a problem arises, it takes practice  ]]> 2018-03-13 19:15:45 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241591030 Changing Habits https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241797921 After Friday's session with Dr. Chopra, I have taken some of the advice which he offered on board. He discussed people's use of habits in detail and this is something that stuck with me. Over the past week or so I have tried to change my habits, even the small ones. This includes what leg I put into my jeans first all the way to what time I get up and go to sleep at night.  I want to try to unlock another door' by getting rid of these habits. Over the last week it is has proven quite strange and takes some getting used to as changing some of these habits can throw you off a little.
David O'Regan
My response to Shane Barrett: I agree with Shane that a change of scenery can completely change your perspective. By walking a different way to college, this sparks new and different ideas than if you walked the same way as you always do. It is unknown territory so your thought will be new as well]]> 2018-03-14 11:16:49 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241797921 never knock anything - eamonn doyle https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241798383 after jays session last Friday, I took away one very important lesson: every idea has merit and value, no idea is useless. although many might disagree with this statement,  i put forward the idea of of jays reversal method. thinking of how to make a topic or subject worse and then applying the method the come up with ways to improve it. it showed to me never to knock any idea that comes to mind, no matter how ridicoulous.

my response to Nathan Walsh: i find nathans post very interesting in that he was having trouble filling out a form with honesty, yet post jays speech he had no problem. it just highlights to me how useful this simple method is.

]]> 2018-03-14 11:18:17 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241798383 Changing Habits - Seamus Curtin https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241800209 After Jay's session last week I have tried to take his advice by changing the process by which I do certain everyday things. things that i just do naturally, for example, i have started to hold my cups in the opposite hand and use my phone more in my left hand. these are simple things which we normally do without even thinking about them. But making these tiny changes allow me to think in different ways than I normally do and might allow me to come up with more creative solutions to problems.

In response to Eamonn Doyle from Jay's session I agree that an important point we learned is that every idea has merit

]]> 2018-03-14 11:23:50 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241800209 New Techniques https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241802940 After our session on Friday the 9th of March with Jay Chopra, i was interested by new techniques he showed us. The reversal technique being the most significant. This technique meant that you would try simple daily tasks in a order or way. Following the session i tried new routines like the order in which i dressed myself or keeping things like my phone or wallet in different pockets to the norm. These actions initially seem very weird because over a period of time i have built up a norm and was breaking these by doing these differently. This helps create a creative way of thinking because you are not just following a linear pattern that you are accustomed to doing, you begin to think about things differently every time. It  showed me to think more  openly and interact with issues from different perspectives. This then makes you as a person better at solving be it a large or a small issue.

-Daniel Skillington

My response to Eamonn Doyle : i agree with your statement that the idea of no thought being useless. Dr. Jay Chopra showed us that any idea that in the beginning sounds ridiculous can be turned into something useful by the time you finish brainstorming. It helps expand new ways of creative thinking.]]> 2018-03-14 11:31:33 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241802940 A new approach https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241806041 This week I came to the realization that I should approach problems with a new and different perspective. The wildest idea was a great way of approaching a problem and it gives you many ideas on how to tackle a problem.
In response to Nathan, I certainly agree that this speech gave me a great advantage in tackling problems that I would have previously struggled on.
-Owen O Sullivan]]> 2018-03-14 11:41:00 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241806041 Sparking https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241832424 I found many aspects of Jay's session very interesting. However, the one aspect that stuck out in my mind was the idea of 'Sparking'. The act of using stimulus to break out of habittual thought process to create new ideas. Since Fridays session I have structured my actions to design new ideas. This has applied in both my professional and personal life. I have had lunch with different people almost every day since. I have also taken a new route to work on two occasions. I found this 'Sparking' idea very beneficial. 
- Conor Mc Carthy 


My response to Adam Walsh:

I agree with Adam in saying that in order to achieve true creativity, it must become an everyday habit in your life. You can only achieve creativity by become the pilot of your own life.]]> 2018-03-14 12:41:53 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241832424 Stepping out of comfort zones https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241899817 After Friday’s session, I became aware of habits and routines I had fallen into. Sometimes it is easiest for us to find something that works or that we're comfortable with and stick to it, rather than take the time to come up with and look for new ways and ideas to complete a task. I think because of this a lot of us don’t ever get to use or explore the creative part of our brains. This was the main reason I felt somewhat restricted, or ‘imprisoned’ when it came to being creative during the session. We were told to think of a wild idea and I definitely struggled to come up with something wild and out there, as I’m used to thinking in a logical and rational way. I felt a lot more open to the idea of trying new and creative ways to approach problem situations by the end of the class thanks to the template Jay provided. I relate this to Wittgenstein’s quote about the need to push the door, by pushing ourselves to try new things we become more open-minded.
-Claire White

My response to Eilis Daly: I agree that embracing change is very important and can make a huge difference to how you approach or feel about a situation.

]]> 2018-03-14 14:27:40 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241899817 Ross Howell https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241942589 After Jay’s speech,]]> 2018-03-14 15:32:06 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241942589 Breaking Boundaries (Ross Howell) https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241983260 The main thing I took away from Jays session last Friday was the idea of chopping and changing ordinary methods of completing simple day tasks. He calls it the reversal technique. In life it's important to put yourself outside your comfort zone from time to time, to break the barriers of the repetitive and monotonous ways we do things. It helps you to become more creative as a person and allows to to try adapt to new process's. That evening I tried changing even the little things that I'm used to doing, such as the hand I'm used to holding my phone in, and the leg I kick a soccer ball with. 
-Ross Howell

My response to Eamonn Doyle
-I agree with your point, all ideas have importance. Sometimes the ones that are most abstract give the greatest reward. Jay referred to this with the 'Wild idea' concept.


]]> 2018-03-14 16:39:26 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/241983260 Diverse Teams https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/242003234 I really resonated with what Jay told us about teams. He told us that it is very important for a team to be diverse, that each individual brings with them a unique mindset and collection of skills. Sparking and fueling ideas was a fresh approach to brainstorming and was really interesting to learn about! ]]> 2018-03-14 17:13:13 UTC https://padlet.com/dblackshields/3el8mblnstwj/wish/242003234