Creative Process Reflection by Bouzan, Olivia

Acquiring Competencies

xob05573 — 2023-10-29 19:56:53 UTC

Divergent Thinking
Resilience
Recognizing Limitations

Taking Risks

xob05573 — 2023-10-29 19:57:12 UTC

Taking risks is important because sometimes the best ideas are unconventional. Using the SCAMPER cards taught me this the most because it allowed us to come up with random and fun ideas without judgment. Normally during group work, I would not want to offer up any idea that might not work for fear of wasting people's time, but in the creative process, it is helpful to offer an idea that may seem silly to you.

Solving Problems

xob05573 — 2023-10-29 19:57:33 UTC

One problem that I often ran into was a lack of communication among group members. Through the different group presentations, I have found that what works best is being proactive, creating a group chat immediately, assigning specific duties, and deciding on at least one time to meet up and discuss our work.

Embracing Contradictions

xob05573 — 2023-10-29 19:58:07 UTC

I learned about embracing contradictions while reading the Intuitive Group of Thinker toys. Before, when I pictured the creative process, I imagined it as hard work that expends mental effort. When I read the intuitive toys, and learned about the benefits of meditating, clearing the mind, and stepping away from the problem, I saw how creativity is not always very difficult. You can come up with great ideas naturally and without trying sometimes.

Accepting Novelty

xob05573 — 2023-10-29 19:58:20 UTC

I found that my favorite solutions from the different Tinkertoy presentations I worked on were ones that I or one of my group members came up with and not just one that already exists. For example, the Grow Grocer app or the artificial coral. Even if they are solutions that will never be implemented, I think coming up with unique solutions teaches us to be more creative.

Connecting Ideas

xob05573 — 2023-10-29 19:58:43 UTC

I learned how to connect different ideas while making the "What Sustainability/Creativity Means to Me" presentations. I liked being able to watch different videos and connect the main points from them to each other. I thought it was cool how even though all of the videos came from different sources they had some very similar messages like about creative resilience and taking personal responsibility for sustainability.

Divergent Thinking

xob05573 — 2023-10-29 20:12:29 UTC

"Finding multiple solutions to a problem without conventional logic and rules." The best way I have learned to practice divergent thinking is through mind mapping and word association. For example, in the Circle of Opportunity activity, we started with one word and had to branch off in multiple different directions.

Resilience

xob05573 — 2023-10-29 20:15:33 UTC

Not giving up after one idea fails. I have learned that resilience takes practice. With each Thinker toy presentation, I have become more resilient. For example, now that I have seen the end result of multiple presentations, I no longer get frustrated with myself or my group members when we hit a wall. Instead, I have faith that we will come up with solutions.

Recognizing Limitations

xob05573 — 2023-10-29 20:18:53 UTC

"Don't drown in a sea of possibilities, get on the boat that is your limitations." Having criteria and limitations to follow can actually help the creative process. Even though it sounds counterintuitive, I have learned that choosing a final solution from all the alternatives is only possible when my group points out real-life limitations.