Imperial College London
Introduction to Creative Thinking: Tools for Success
Imperial College London

Introduction to Creative Thinking: Tools for Success

Peter Childs

Instructor: Peter Childs

8,317 already enrolled

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.9

(729 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 12 hours
Learn at your own pace
99%
Most learners liked this course
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.9

(729 reviews)

Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 12 hours
Learn at your own pace
99%
Most learners liked this course

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Assessments

12 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Creative Thinking Tools for Success and Leadership Specialization
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There are 6 modules in this course

In the first week, we focus on the basic principles of creativity and highlight its importance in tackling global challenges. A framework called the Creativity Diamond is introduced that will be used throughout the course to help identify which approach to use for creativity and when.

What's included

6 videos7 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts1 plugin

Creativity exists on many levels. There are examples of creativity that influence and transform society. There are also instances in our everyday lives when we come up with an idea to address a challenge or opportunity. This week we will explore some of the definitions and types of creativity, along with an introduction to assessing creativity.

What's included

5 videos1 reading1 assignment3 discussion prompts4 plugins

This week we will look at an introduction to the brain, the mind, thoughts and memory, thinking and cognition. Consideration of thinking is important as ideas encapsulate a fundamental outcome in creativity. Some approaches to thinking have been identified as helpful in augmenting creativity, and some of these tools and the associated principles are introduced.

What's included

5 videos4 readings3 assignments

In this week, we will look at how we can augment our creativity using different methods of brainstorming, a creativity approach that aids the generation of ideas in solving a stated problem. We particularly focus on the application of brainstorming tools, with the aim of enabling you to understand, evaluate and apply different types of brainstorming techniques in your own context.

What's included

1 video2 readings5 assignments

There are a wide range of types of brainstorming. All are based on the principles of quantity breeds quality and suspending judgement of ideas. This week we will introduce two distinctive forms of brainstorming, grid and alphabet. In grid ideas are developed building from an initial concept. In alphabet brainstorming each letter of the alphabet is used as a prompt to illicit several ideas.

What's included

4 videos3 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

This week we will consider additional views on creativity and the importance of the person, physiological aspects, process, the environment and the application in creativity. We will explore the divergent and convergent phases common to many creative processes whereby many ideas are explored in a divergent phase, prior to their refinement and filtering in a convergent phase. We will then draw this course to a close with consideration of some general guidance on creativity and illustrating how your learning so far can be applied within the creativity diamond framework.

What's included

5 videos4 readings1 assignment

Instructor

Instructor ratings
4.8 (207 ratings)
Peter Childs
Imperial College London
4 Courses414,333 learners

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