Imperial College London
Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success
Imperial College London

Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success

Peter Childs

Instructor: Peter Childs

392,080 already enrolled

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7

(4,487 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule
Approx. 19 hours
Learn at your own pace
96%
Most learners liked this course
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7

(4,487 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule
Approx. 19 hours
Learn at your own pace
96%
Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

  • Understand what creative thinking techniques are

  • Comprehend their importance in tackling global challenges as well as in everyday problem-solving scenarios

  • Select and apply the appropriate technique based on the opportunity to seize or the problem to tackle

Details to know

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Assessments

10 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 7 modules in this course

In the first week, we focus on the basic principles of creativity and highlight its importance in tackling global challenges. Creativity is explored and applied at two different levels, lower and higher-level creativity.

What's included

4 videos8 readings6 discussion prompts2 plugins

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 in group activities, with the aim of enabling you to understand, evaluate and apply different types of brainstorming techniques in your own context.

What's included

2 videos8 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt1 plugin

There are many thinking styles which can be helpful in creativity. We will focus on the principles as well as application of a variety of thinking approaches that can be used at both at an individual level and in a group, under various professional and personal situations, allowing you to develop competency and accelerate proficiency in the use of some different thinking styles.

What's included

4 videos5 readings2 assignments1 peer review2 discussion prompts

You will become familiar with the Principles of Morphological Analysis and learn how to apply it in various life scenarios, from design to developing movie plot-lines, whilst developing a more systematic approach to idea generation.

What's included

2 videos3 readings1 assignment2 peer reviews2 discussion prompts2 plugins

In week 5, we continue to enhance your fluency, flexibility and originality of idea generation by introducing you to another creativity tool called the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ). We will particularly focus on application of TRIZ and the TRIZ Contradiction Matrix and how it can be used in problem, both at an individual and in group level.

What's included

5 videos7 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt2 plugins

This week, we will introduce you to the final creativity tool in the course and its importance in generation of ideas and improvement of the existing ones; SCAMPER. You will become familiar with the concepts of SCAMPER and gain proficiency in its application in various unusual, personal or professional situations, whilst inspiring related ideas.

What's included

2 videos2 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

Now that you have mastered a wide range of creativity tools and developed competency in their application over a wide range of situations and domains, we will wrap up by asking you to use these tool in combinations and apply these in context and scenarios that are also related to your own discipline or context. This will help you reinforce the concepts that you have learnt so far and enable you to use the creativity tools freely in problem solving and idea generation.

What's included

3 videos7 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts1 plugin

Instructor

Instructor ratings
4.8 (1,575 ratings)
Peter Childs
Imperial College London
4 Courses400,776 learners

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