10/23/04 Creativity, second class 2
• Login info:o User Name tomclasso Password 3Nv1r0nm3nT
(think “environment”)• Not accepted during class:
o Conference messageso Weekly reports
• http://www.is.wayne.edu/drbowen/crtvyf04
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 3
Agenda
1. Issues for online students
2. Review of assignments
3. Initial ideas about creativity
4. Writing for the creativity course
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 4
Issues for online students
• Technicalo Keep email inbox openo Call Instructor if her/his email inbox is fullo Watch your file sizes (graphics)o Check out two-way file compatibility with
Instructoro Methods of contacting Instructor (face time,
telephone, email, conference)
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 5
Issues for online students
• Non-technicalo Ask for help early (don’t let a problem build
up)o To get the most out of course, jump in to
messagingo Don’t let backlog build up – it’ll bite ya!o You are not out there on your owno Have opinions! Express yourself!
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 6
Review of Assignments
• Where we are in the course
• What you should do
• How I grade messages
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 7
Hey folks!Semester is half over and some people really haven’t gotten started yet
• Deborah Dorsey• Nira Griffin• Sherlene McDonald• Kay Russell• Mary Smith• Keesa Tippett• Carmelita Williams• Latisha Williams
The Schedule Assignment (on course web site)
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 8
Every Week
• Reading (carry a book with you!)• Messages to conference (catch-up time is
only until Thanksgiving). Comments on your reading make good comments. Read actively!
• Weekly report (to make these up, ask about an extra assignment)
• Thinking about the essay for that book
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Once only but past due:• First three messages (intro, creative person,
What about creativity is interesting)• File Test• Call to my home (except for a few)• Four-credits?
Choice of fourth book (Dorsey, Griffin, Miller, Russell, Smith, Tippett, Whitty)
Draft essay topic for fourth book as a conference message
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 11
Conferencing
• How I grade messageso Five lines minimumo (17%) Relevant to course (loosely interpreted,
but comments on reading are good)o If content is a reply, then
o (17%) Message is a replyo (17%) Uses Reply / Quote to establish a context
• Questions? I will share my record.
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 12
Conferencing
• Techniques:o Reply/Quote, then edit. Practice:
Message: For During the ClassReply/QuoteRemove everything from original except “David
Bowen wrote” and my second sentenceYour message: “My name is “ (then your name)
o PROFILES / Change personal profile
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 13
Initial Ideas About Creativity
1. Definitions and related concepts
2. Creativity and and (children, ADD / ADHD / mental illness, popularity)
3. What’s inside
4. Conflicting characteristics
5. Corporate Creativitya. Compare to Csikszentmihalyi
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 14
Creativity and Friends #1
• Creativity – something new that meets a need or solves a problem(in the symbolic culture)o Big C Vs little co Creative product?
• Innovation - something new that meets a need or solves a problem (in the material culture)
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 15
Creativity and Friends #2
• Novelty – something that is new, without solving a problem or meeting a need (e.g. a fad like the hula hoop)
• Problem-solving – meeting the problems of everyday life
• Performance
• Flow – internal state
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 16
Creativity Process1. Preparation2. Block3. Inspiration (aha)4. Finishing (assessing, revising)
Your creativity requires autonomy, can be cut off but not steered or directed
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Creativity and Children
• Often have novel and appealing ideas
• Not so good at:o Choosing a significant problemo Assessing and revising
• Few famous children go on to remain so as adults
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Creativity and mental illness
• Similar to children – novel ideas but significance and follow-through are difficult to manage
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 19
Creativity and Popularity(alignment)
Aligned Domain
Non-aligned domain
Helps to be out on the edge if you are going to move the domain.
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 21
Conflicting traits• Creativity, The Creative Personality
Chapter Threeo extroversion Vs introversion (both)o traditional and conservative Vs rebellious and
iconoclastico humble Vs proudo I believe these arise because creative projects
require contradictory traits at different times – e.g. proud enough to propose something new, humble enough to seek advice
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 22
Corporate Creativitycompared with others
Corp. Creativity (Pg 12) Csikszentmihalyi etc.
1. Alignment Structured (pg 39
2. Self-initiated activity Autonomy
3. Unofficial activity Idea before refinement
4. Serendipity Luck in problem choice
5. Diverse stimuli Know the field, domain
6. Communication Weak links (elsewhere)
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 23
Corporate Creativity• Many people think that business is the
opposite of creative – manipulative, controlling, resistant to change, but all of the business world that we see is the result of creativity and innovation
• Business has some advantages, eveno Good at bringing in extra people and resources,
otherwise available only to the famous (one way to get the opposed personalities without the inner conflict)
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 24
Writing for Creativity• Content, Form, Mechanics
o CONTENT: Part of my purpose is to see that you have read and understood the texts
o FORM: Title, Intro, Body, Conclusion, consistent voice (I, you, one, etc.), changes in opinion, tense etc. are under control and not accidental (transitions)
o MECHANICS: Use spell-check and grammar-check (but ~ 1/3 passive tense is OK, needed sometimes, e.g. when you don’t know the actor
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 25
Writing for Creativity
• CONCLUSION: No new information, else thinking is not done. (exception – to open subject up to show its larger significance)
• TITLE: Describe essay, can have fun with this• Include your own opinions, feelings, comments,
experiences, reactions• Cover sheet: your name, which question (you
don’t really want me to guess, do you?)
10/23/04 Creativity, second class 26
Some new Architecture(architects want to design creatively, but they also
want people to be innovative and creative within their
buildings)