Creativity

Practical exercises to develop Creativity

Timings: 50 minutes

Rationale: Skill needed to come up with innovative ideas and solutions to problems

Learning objectives: in this training, mentors will:

1. Discuss the importance of creativity in problem solving
2. Identify different techniques to enhance creativity
3. Observe examples of creative problem solving in various fields
4. Apply techniques to a specific problem and come up with creative solutions

Preparation: 

• Have ready a computer and an overhead projector
• Prepare a PowerPoint presentation for the introduction including possible definitions and questions, you are going to pose.
• Prepare pieces of paper and pens/pencils for all the participants
• Prepare examples of creative problem-solving in various fields (e.g. design, art, science)
• Prepare exercises that stimulate creativity (e.g. brainstorming, mind mapping)

Procedure: 

1. Mentor explains the objective, aims and structure of the training session. The mentor should encourage all participants to keep notes through the training. 10 minutes
2. Mentor presents the following questions and asks mentees to think of them individually for a moment:

• What does creativity mean to you?
• Why is creativity important in problem-solving?
• What techniques do you use to enhance your creativity?

Give 5 minutes to think and ask them to tell what they think to the person they have on their right hand. 10 minutes

1. Mentor puts participants into groups of three or four. Each group is supposed to discuss the same questions further. All participants should share their thoughts as well as communicating what was revealed in the 1+1 conversation. Each group should nominate a person to write notes. 15 minutes
2. Mentor presents examples of creative problem-solving in various fields, highlighting the techniques used and the outcomes achieved. 10 minutes
3. Mentor leads the group in a creativity exercise, such as brainstorming or mind mapping, to come up with creative solutions to a specific problem. 10 minutes

Exercise 1: Brainstorming. Brainstorming is an activity that involves generating ideas freely and spontaneously, without judging or criticizing others' proposals. This exercise can be useful for generating new ideas and solutions for the Rural Plus project.

Exercise 2: Lateral Thinking. Lateral thinking is an approach to problem solving that involves using creative techniques to find unconventional solutions. Lateral thinking exercises may include solving puzzles or participating in role-playing games.

Exercise 3: Visual thinking. Visual thinking is a skill that involves the graphic representation of ideas through drawings, diagrams, mind maps and other visual tools. This exercise can be useful for exploring ideas in more depth and identifying new connections between different concepts.

Each group presents their solutions and the techniques they used to arrive at them. 10 minutes

Best practices for developing creativity:

• Promote team diversity by including members with different backgrounds and perspectives.
• Create a work environment that is open to experimentation and innovation.
• Use problem-solving techniques that encourage the use of unconventional ideas.

Sources for further study on this topic:

• "Creativity, Inc." by Ed Catmull
• "Design Thinking" by Tim Brown
• "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron.

Discussion about the results and the session in general. 5 minutes