Creativity Techniques Set 3: Creative Problem-Solving Techniques

Problems to use for CPS Techniques: Do not use a problem more than once.
Unless otherwise specified by the instructions for the technique, use one of these problems:

 We need a new degree program for Seneca College

 People aren’t recycling their cans and bottles
 I need to save some money for a vacation
 We need to get people to stop eating junk food
 How to improve a laptop computer
 We need to get people to wear their face masks
 We need to get people to get their COVID vaccinations
 I need to make new friends
 I don’t have enough time each week for school, work and family/friends
 How to get people to put their cigarette butts in the garbage
 How to improve a toaster
 How make synchronous classes more interesting

Week 10:

1.  SCAMPER
Use the SCAMPER technique to generate ideas to solve a problem. Please show all your work
(problem, brainstorming under each letter, useful ideas, and 3-4 final solutions).
Note – you may want to do this as a mindmap.
See Week 10 folder for instructions.

2.  MindMapping for Creative Problem Solving

Use Mindmapping to generate ideas to solve a problem. 
Show all your work (problem, mindmap, useful ideas, 3-4 final solutions).
Note: If you would like to do your Mindmap on the computer, check out free online
MindMapping with Mindmup: https://www.mindmup.com/ or Miro: https://miro.com/
See Week 10 Folder for instructions.

Week 11:

3.  Random Stimulus (aka ‘Forced Connection)

Use a Random Word, Random Picture, False Rule, or the da Vinci Technique to generate ideas
to solve a problem.
Show all your work (problem, stimulus used, brainstorms, good/useful ideas, 3-4 final
solutions).
See Week 11 folder for instructions.

4.  Escapism
Use the Escapism technique to generate ideas to solve a problem.
Show all your work (problem, escapist ideas, benefits of escapist ideas, ‘useful’ variations of
wild ideas, good ideas, final solutions). Note – you may want to do this as a Mindmap.
See Week 11 folder for instructions.
5.  Reversal
Use the reversal technique to generate ideas to solve a problem.
Show your work (problem, reversed problem, ideas for reversed problem, reversed ideas,
good/useful ideas, 3-4 final solutions).
See Week 11 Folder for instructions.

Week 12:

6.  Six Thinking Hats

Use deBono's "Six Thinking Hats" technique on a problem from the list provided. 
Show all your work (problem, responses from each ‘Hat’, useful ideas generated, final solutions
and next steps). 
See Week 12 Folder for instructions.

7.  5 Senses
Use the 5 Senses technique to generate ideas for one of the following problems:
- What to get for Mary for Christmas
- What to wear to a Hallowe’en Party
Show your work (problem, ideas, useful ideas, 3-4 final solutions
See Week 12 Folder for instructions

8.  Provocateur or "Role Play"

Use the Role Play technique to generate ideas to solve a problem.
Show all your work (problem, roles, ideas from each role, useful ideas, 3-4 solutions). Note –
you may want to do this as a mindmap.
See Week 12 Folder for instructions