UNR1102 - Creativity and innovation

Dr. Mohamed H. Zaky

Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT)

Fall 2023 Semester

AASTMT - Alexandria
Creative
Thinking
Characteristics and features
Characteristics of
creative thinking
Creative thinking is a skill that
anyone can acquire and
develop.

To develop the skill of creative

thinking, eight characteristics
should be considered.

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Characteristics of creative thinking

Imaginative Bringing something that did not exist or was not known previously.

Fluency The ability to easily generate ideas, responses, solutions, or inquiries.

Purposeful Besides imagination, the product must serve the purpose.

Originality It's the ability to produce unusual, original, or unique thoughts.

Elaboration Add details to modify or expand an idea or plan.

Sensitivity Ability to spot problems before others do.

Flexibility Flexible thinking is the ability to adapt to new rules or conditions.

Valuable The product or result must be valuable; adding evaluation to creative thought.

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Different features of
creativity (The four Ps) Each of these
Four Ps might
affect our
ability to think
creatively, and
we all respond
differently to
them.

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 Different features of creativity

Process It is how we produce ideas or think systematically (divergent or convergent thinking).

Product It is the problem context, idea source, and outcome.

Person It is our openness to new experiences and curiosity.

Place It is our surroundings and accessibility to resources for developing or igniting thoughts.

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Can we improve one’s thinking skills and originality?

We need to understand three basic

principles that underlie creativity.

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Creativity depends on a Principle
store of combinable one: New
ideas.
ideas are
composed
With less information,
of old
you have fewer resources
elements
for new ideas.
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Artistic
Creativity
It expresses
emotional thoughts Principle
through art. two: Not all
Cognitive
new ideas
Creativity
It expresses scientific are on the
thoughts through same level
critical evaluation.

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 Principle
Connections between three:
diverse disciplines. Creativity is
enhanced by
We need We should seek the ability to
knowledge a deep detect
(through understanding
reading and of the essential connections
investigation). concepts. among ideas
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The five stages of Most creative people follow logically-
the creative process ordered stages subconsciously.
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 Stage one: Preparation

The creative process begins with

preparation: which is both internal
(develop ideas), and external (gather
the necessary data and resources).
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 Stage two: Incubation

The unconscious mind combines

numerous ideas and influences
while the conscious mind
wanders.
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 Stage three: Illumination

After incubation, deep discoveries

break through to conscious
awareness, often suddenly.
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 Stage four: Evaluation

This step involves weighing

your idea against alternatives.

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 Stage five: Verification

Now you finalize your

design and share it with the
world.
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 Factors influencing creativity
Experiences The more knowledge you have, the more creative you'll be.

Fearlessness Doubts are good but worrying over an idea's success shows you lack faith.

Desire It is sometimes underestimated but is crucial to becoming a creative person.

Atmosphere and Environment It's all about the world around us. The surroundings influence an individual's creativity.

Space and Time Without a specific amount of time, it's tempting to abandon creativity and focus on trivial tasks rather than significant ones.

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 Types of creativity

Creative insights might

be spontaneous or
deliberate, cognitive or
emotional.

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Deliberate and cognitive people have a lot of information about a
certain subject and combine their talents and abilities to plan a path of action.

Creativity in this category involves long-term efforts for studying, problem-

solving, investigation, and experimentation.

Edison ran experiment after experiment before inventing the light bulb, and
telecommunication.

Deliberate and cognitive creativity

Deliberate, emotional people allow their emotions to affect their work. They're
naturally sensitive and prefer quiet time to analyze and often keep diaries.

Their creativity balances deliberate, emotional, and rational actions.

This type of creativity happens at random moments. When someone suddenly

thinks of a solution or inventive concept, they have an "a ha!" moment.

Deliberate and emotional creativity

This form of creativity arises when someone knows how to do a work but
needs inspiration and a clue.

This kind of creativity frequently strikes at an inconvenient time. When

the conscious mind relaxes, the unconscious mind can be creative.

Newton got the idea about the law of gravity when an apple hit his head
while he was sitting under a tree and relaxing.

Spontaneous and cognitive creativity

When the conscious brain rests, spontaneous creative thoughts occur.

This creativity is frequent among musicians, painters, designers, and

writers.

"Spontaneous and emotional" creativity doesn't require expertise.

Spontaneous and emotional creativity

HOW
CREATIVE ARE
YOU?
STRETCH YOUR MIND
IN A GROUP
Exercise one - Break the ice with “The four
quadrants” activity
• Creative exercises often work best with a
simple, easy-to-follow framework that allows for
self-expression.
• This icebreaker activity is a proven way to
help a team get acquainted and spur creativity
too!
• Start by having participants divide a piece of
paper or online canvas into four sections.
• Ask the group to then draw a response to four
questions in each section without using text.
• By having to draw an answer to each question
and then invite the group to interpret and debrief
together, this activity helps promote visual
thinking and self-expression too!

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“Creativity can solve almost any
problem. The creative act, the
defeat of habit by originality,
overcomes everything.” George
Lois, 1931, Art Director and
Author