Through The Wardrobe - A Generic Platform To Foster The Evolution Of Creative Problem Solving Skills

Kelly, Aileen; Hiley, Anna; Wilson, Jacquie

Abstract

Today’s society generates complex challenges which require a creative approach to problem identification and problem solving within a multidisciplinary environment. These are fundamental activities. They encompass, for example, critical evaluation and decision-making. In many disciplines they are known collectively as the design process. The quality of the design process affects both our current and future environment and all the products within it and therefore can enhance or detract from our quality of life. To determine the optimum option in answer to a problem or need the experienced practitioner requires a highly developed tacit knowledge base which can be creatively applied to explicit knowledge resources.

The authors’ long term experience in both industry and in higher education indicates that there is a need to make undergraduates aware that all individuals have the potential to develop creative design skills. We believe that the acquisition of such skills can enhance all their learning. However education strategy is often wholly focused on acquiring and assessing explicit knowledge. This often results in individuals wary of and unable to cope with an open-ended problem scenario. To achieve their full potential they need guidance in developing their dormant problem solving and creative design skills.

An innovative active learning strategy was designed and first implemented in 2002 aimed at promoting the evolution of design, decision making and creative problem solving skills. The response of the original student cohort and each subsequent group indicates that transferable design skills can be developed, even within the restrictions of a modular system. Through reflective reports students have given evidence of how these skills can be applied to both other academic modules and non-academic activities.

A core aim was to develop the learning strategy so that it would be generally applicable across a wide range of disciplines. To date, students from disciplines including Civil Engineering, Construction Management and Material Science have successfully undertaken this unit. Their response indicates that the learning strategy does encompass generic themes allowing it to be used across different subject domains. This paper describes how the experience of implementing this learning strategy and an evaluation of the students’ responses to it is being used to develop a generic framework, through which creative problem-solving and design skills can be fostered at undergraduate level. The aim is to provide individuals with the creative design skills they will need as future practitioners.

Citation

Kelly, A., Hiley, A., & Wilson, J. (2007, January). Through The Wardrobe - A Generic Platform To Foster The Evolution Of Creative Problem Solving Skills. Paper presented at Creativity or Conformity? Building Cultures of Creativity in Higher Education, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: Creativity or Conformity? Building Cultures of Creativity in Higher Education
• Conference Location: University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
• Start Date: Jan 8, 2007
• End Date: Jan 10, 2007
• Deposit Date: Jun 27, 2023
• Keywords: creative, problem solving, generic, design, learning