INTRODUCTIONSo, you tested your creative muscles in the lateral thinking puzzles, and maybe you discovered that those muscles are a little weak. If so, you shouldn't worry too much about it. This cour

INTRODUCTION

So, you tested your creative muscles in the lateral thinking puzzles, and maybe you discovered that those muscles are a little weak. If so, you shouldn't worry too much about it. This course should help you build those muscles up--you'll be a regular Creative Hulk (or She-Hulk) in no time. That's one of the goals of this course.

Did you know that there are scholars who believe such skills are absolutely necessary in American education, business, and industry? It's true. In fact, many scholars believe that in America, there's a "creativity crisis" resulting in an inability to be as creative or innovative as we could/should be in areas of education, business, industry, etc. What is the "creativity crisis," exactly? Where does it come from? What does it mean to America, and to you as an individual?

The activities on this page will encourage you think about these questions and discuss your thoughts on them with your classmates.

WHAT TO DO

FIRST, read "The Creativity Crisis" Newsweek article, published on July 10, 2010. Here's the article:

The Creativity Crisis.doc

SECOND, watch the youtube video below. This a presentation by Sir Ken Robinson delivered at the TED conference in 2006. The TED conference is a national, annual conference that brings together the best, brightest, most creative minds to share their thoughts, discoveries, innovations, etc. with the world. Robinson is a well-known and respected educational philosopher (did you know there was such a thing as an educational philosopher?).

Robinson speaks quickly with a British accent, so you may need to listen closely, and watch more than once.

Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity? (链接到外部网站。)链接到外部网站。

THIRD, after you've read the Newsweek article and listened to Robinson, write a thoughtful response to the questions below, and post your response on The Creativity Crisis discussion thread (click the "Reply" link below and start typing, or click the "Discussion" tab to your left, locate the Creativity Crisis link, and start typing).

• How would you summarize the main point of each piece?
• What similar and different points do the pieces make?
• What ideas in either piece do you agree/disagree with? Why?
• Do you see any evidence in your everyday life, your academic major, or your career field that there really is a "creativity crisis" to be aware of?

FOURTH, read through all of your classmates' messages, and respond to at least ONE of them by playing devil's advocate. That means taking an opposing viewpoint on an idea in the original post, and offering a counterpoint or a counterargument to that original idea. You don't necessarily have to agree with your devil's advocate stance, just play the part. The goal here is simply to think about the complexities of the creativity crisis by looking at alternate points of view on it. We also want to work hard to move forum discussions beyond "I think ____," and a response of "I totally agree!" Of course, you're also encouraged to share any other thoughtful thoughts you have in response to the original post, as well.