Creativity

Creativity simply means the ability to come up with something new. Creative thinking means looking at something in a new way.  Creative people have the ability to devise new ways to carry out tasks, solve problems, and meet challenges. They bring a fresh, and sometimes unorthodox, perspective to their work. Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. Creativity is the mental process involved in the production of a novel thing, idea or object.

According to Spearman. “Creativity is the power of human mind to create new contents by transforming relations and thereby generating new correlates”.

David Ausubel defined  creativity as a generalized constellation of intellectual abilities, personality variables and problem – solving traits.

The creativity process is any process by which something new is produced, an idea or an object including a new form or arrangement of old elements. The new creation must contribute to the solution of some problems.

Creative thinking inspires ideas, and these ideas inspire change.  The main components of creativity are

• Creativity involves expertise, that is it involves the accountability of the person in the specific field. Creativity generally demand some level of expertise in the intellectual knowledge, procedural knowledge, technical knowledge.
• Creativity involves Thinking Skills : It involves finding a unique and creative solution to any unanswered question or problem. having a new  or diverse perspective of lateral rational thoughts.
• Creativity involves Individual Motivation : Motivation is the driving force behind an individual. It determines  the success of any endeavor. When a  person is truly  self- motivated, and work dedicatedly  towards his problems  a creative solution will arise.

The common feature of creativity is divergent thinking- “Uncommon thought on common things” Ability to think out of the box.

Creative thinkers are always good communicators, open-minded, willing to learn from both successes and failure, being able to grow and develop. They are risk-takers , having a mentality of willingness to face challenges and accept change, resilient in attitude.

The main qualities of creative persons are listed as follow

QUALITIES OF CREATIVE PERSONS            .

Strong sense of curiosity about nature, objects, and phenomena

​Always baffled by something.

Showing high interest in investigations

Is attracted to the mysterious.

Tendency to make critical observation

Can attempt difficult mental jobs.

Is receptive to the ideas of others

Is a fault finder

Establish valid connection between scientific concepts and observation

His criticism is constructive.

Extensive thinking skills

Like solitude.

Eager to develop diverse thoughts

Has strong determination

Shows interest in varieties and improvization.

Makes mistakes but never bored.

Address uncomon questions related to  phenomena

• Has strong emotions, affection  dedication etc

Possess visionary speculative

According to Torrance  creativity constitutes the components

• Fluency : The ability to think of many diverse  ideas quickly.
• Flexibility : the ability to move easily beyond the traditional barriers and come up with awesome ideas/products.
• Originality: the uniqueness in creativity.
• Elaboration: stretching the divergent ideas fruitful product.

STAGES INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF CREATIVITY

Preparation : Analyzing the problem or situation as a whole objectively and defining the problem within the feasible limits. In this stage the thinker formulates the problem and collects the facts and materials. Failing to solve the problem, the thinker turns away from it initiating next stage. considered necessary for finding new solutions.

Incubation : During this period some of the ideas that were interfering with the solution will tend to fade. But the unconscious thought process involved in creative thinking is at work during this period.A creative thinker contemplates on an idea to find out a solution to the problem that is disturbing him , that is problem will be going on in the mind.

Illumination : Following the period of incubation the creative ideas occur suddenly.  The light glow experience. Getting a spark, an insight into the problem. This sudden flash of solution is known as illumination and is similar to (eureka) experience. 

Verification : The spark generated  in illumination stage is tested, it is necessary to verify whether that solution is correct or not.  If the solution is not satisfactory the thinker will go back to creative process from the beginning. If it is satisfactory, the same will be accepted and if necessary, minor modification may also be,made in solution.Critical evaluation and polishing of ideas into a novel product.

.         STAGES OF CREATIVITY           .
.                                1. PREPARATION                                    .
.                                2. INCUBATION                                      .
.                                3. ILLUMINATION                                 .
.                                4. VERIFICATION                                   .

How to foster creativity among learners ?

• Provide open ended tasks, promote  divergent thoughts
• Explore different cultures
• Embrace creativity as part of learning
• Gather outside resources.
• Brainstorming
• Try the Incubation Model :  Heighten Motivation  and Deepen Expectations
• Design multidisciplinary lessons when possible.
• Use a collaborative creative thinking model to solve classroom problem
• Provide a nurturing flexible environment
• Exposure to wide range of experiences to think out of the box
• Tapping  multiple intelligences
• Encourage curiosity.
• Find ways to incorporate and integrate art, music and culture.
• Provide rooms to challenge assumptions instead of accepting things "as is."
• Allow room for mistakes
• Teach them  that mistakes are not evil, and should not be feared.
• Encourage autonomy
• Give students direct feedback on their creativity.
• Support learners intrinsic motivation.
• Give responsibility to students.

Let me conclude,

Being creative is seeing the same thing as everybody else but thinking of something different. Creativity  is the unique characteristic of the human mind. It  involves the translation of unique gifts, talents and vision into an external reality that is new and useful.  In the first stage brain gathers information. Creative ideas don’t come from a vacuum. In the second stage, you let your mind wander and stretch your ideas. In the third stage, you make connections between ideas. In the fourth stage, creative ideas need to be polished by critical thinking in order to persuasively reach their audience. The degree of one's creativity may thus be judged on the basis of its originality, novelty and relevance. 

Think Different

Explore Divergent Thoughts

Ignite Mind to illuminate novel ideas

Be Creative...