Creativity is essential in the realm of critical thinking, especially in solving problems innovatively,
effectively, and in ways that produce positive differences and a competitive edge.

In the education sector, be it at kindergarten or the post-graduate research level, encouraging creative thinking is considered to be of paramount importance by those educators who desire to see their students accelerate in the learning process, become lateral learners, and enjoy what they are doing.

Creative thinking just doesn’t occur because one presses some sort of magic button in their brain and suddenly, fantastic, previously unknown ideas flow forth like a raging stream or bolts of lightning. Creative thinking requires preparation, persistence and practice.

CREATIVE THINKING PRE-REQUISITES

(1) Creative thinking requires a personal inner desire and determination to be different, to leap outside one’s normal “thinking box,” to be motivated and take risks, to question, to challenge and exceed the boundaries of existing knowledge and accepted solutions, to neutralize previously-held beliefs.

(2) Creative thinking requires an individual to have the experience, expertise, and exploratory and expeditionary skills to be able to make a contribution that goes beyond traditional or official expectations and normality.

(3) Creative thinking requires self-belief, self-confidence, courage, boldness and a willingness to be wrong. One must be prepared to be totally different, innovative and inventive, to be a non-conformist,
to consider the unproven, the unpopular, the unusual, the untraditional, the unfamiliar and the unexpected.

(4) Creative thinking requires planning, preparation, pre-thought, patience and determination to be positively productive, irrespective of the barriers and any opposition.

(5) Creative thinking requires an individual to have the general knowledge, capabilities and capacity to gather data, to critically assess and evaluate them, and use the positives and the pluses as the basis for producing an innovative alternative that enhances a circumstance, or resolves a problematic situation.

(6) Creative thinking requires a dedicated attitude where one doesn’t give up, despite opponents and critics. It requires perseverance, persistence, and practice as well as a personal perspective
of a situation.

PROGRESSIVE CREATIVE THINKING – THE PROCESS

Creative thinking is a preparatory, progressive and often a painstaking process that often has a “plateau” period before one reaches that “peak” proposition that perfectly suits the situation.

Stage 1. PREPARATION. The gathering of information and data. Records and archival sources are determined and researched. Interviews are held and the in-depth, objective interpretation of the collected material begins.

Stage 2. DEVELOPMENT. Relevant factors in the gathered information connect. Patterns of association appear. General pictures of the issue or problem begin to be portrayed with a range of possible solutions or conclusions slowly evolving.

Stage 3. REVELATION. New and inventive ideas come out, as patterns and pictures from the development stage solidify into meaningful, explainable concepts.

Stage 4. VALIDATION. Confirmation that the revealed idea is appropriate and practical occurs as it is proven by independent application and testing that this creative solution works.

(The author Keith W. Wright is a former politician, an educator and the director of the Australian International Language Academy. E-mail questions to youth@mb.com.ph).