Module 18: Problem Solving and Creativity

 Take the Challenge!

In this Module, challenge yourself to attain the following learning

outcomes:

 explain the four criteria of creativity by Torrance.

 practice creative thinking
 apply problem-solving skills

Introduction

Problem-solving and creativity go hand in hand. You need to be creative in order

to solve a problem. It is unfortunate that these are not adequately taught in the
classroom.

Advance Organizer

Activity

1. Answer the match puzzle.

 Remove 8 matches to leave just 2 squares, which should not touch.
(retrieved from https://www.mycoted.com/Matches_Puzzle_1)

2. What would happen if humans had one more eye at the back of their head?

Write as many answers then indicate why.

Your Answers Why

Analysis

Group yourselves by five (5) then share your answers to the following questions.

1. How did you find the activities?

2. What did you do to be able to solve the puzzle?
3. What kind of question were you given in Activity # 2?
 4. Was this type of question necessary for you to come up with more than one
answer? Could you have come up with more than one answer if the question
asked was “Who is the incumbent President of the Philippines?”

Application

1. Choose a topic from your field of specialization. Think of an activity to introduce

the topic which will provide an opportunity for your learners to practice creative
thinking and problem solving skills.
 Formulate questions under the four aspects of creative thinking – fluency,
flexibility, elaboration and originality.

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 Do creative problem solving by applying Van Gundy’s ‘6 x 2 stages’ form

of Brandsford’sIDEAL model.

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Assessment Task/s
1. Explain in your own words Torrance’s 4 criteria of creativity.
2. Practice creative thinking. Do the following.

a. In two minutes, think of as many uses as possible for a spoon.

The test measures divergent thinking across four sub-categories:
 Fluency- how many uses you can come up with
 Originality- how uncommon those uses are (e.g. for a paper clip
“router starter” is more uncommon than “holding papers together”
 Flexibility- how many areas your answers cover (e.g. for a paper
clip cufflinks and earrings are both accessories, aka one area)
 Elaboration- level of detail in responses; (for a clip, “keeping
headphones from getting tangled up” would be worth more than
“bookmark”)
 b. Incomplete Figures
Complete the images below.

5-minute non-stop writing

Your 5-minute non-stop writing begins NOW!

From the Module on Creativity and Problem Solving, I realized that...

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 c. Riddle

A man has married 20 women in a small town. All of the women are still alive
and none of them are divorced. The man has broken no laws. Who is the man?

d. The Candle Problem

You are given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and a book of matches. Affix the lit
candle to the wall so that it will not drip wax onto the table below.

Apply problem solving skills

(a) There are 200 marbles in a box. All the marbles are either red or blue. If there
are 40 more red marbles than blue, how many red marbles are there in the box?
A. 40 D. 160
 B. 80 E. 180
C. 120

(b) Three times a number is the same as the number added to 60. What is the
number?
A. 15 D. 45
B. 20 E. 180
C. 30
(c) If the length, width and height of the rectangular box measure 1, 3 and 8,
respectively, what is the total surface area of the box?
A. 24 D. 72
B. 35 E. 144
C. 70