Divergent Thinking
What role should divergent thinking play in education?
Divergent thinking is a process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. Learning through play, creative projects and imaginary are ways that encourage divergent thinking. Teaching methods for divergent thinking involve offering schools many ideas and solutions for problem as well as encouraging children to find creative ways to learn. Divergent thinking encourages children to take risks, learn how to be flexible and use their imagination. Without imagination, no one will be able to stand out from the crowd and go a bit further into the solution, coming up with fresh, new ideas.
Starting with a single idea, the divergent thinker allows his or her mind to wander in many different directions, gathering numerous thoughts and ideas which relate to the concept. Divergent thinking can be used as a method of brainstorming in a wide variety of settings, ranging from the research and development department of a major company to the class room. Divergent thinkers tend to throw the rules out the window. They are artistic and always find ways to express themselves. Impressive 5 year olds scored 98% at the genius level in such a test of divergent thinking. Test takers age 10 however, saw their number drop to 32%, on the other hand the high school level was only 10%. It seems that as student mature through the educational system they have some of these creative instincts driven out or socialized out of them.
It is often said that school teaches us to stop thinking creatively, how to conform, to come up the correct idea or answer: Convergent thinking. But as children grow older, they will be expected to come up with new ideas, projects, and innovations to make them stand out in the job market and on the career level. For too long, "divergent thinking" has taken a backseat to its more well-recognized and well-respected cousin, "critical thinking." I think that building your divergent
Divergent thinking is a process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. Learning through play, creative projects and imaginary are ways that encourage divergent thinking. Teaching methods for divergent thinking involve offering schools many ideas and solutions for problem as well as encouraging children to find creative ways to learn. Divergent thinking encourages children to take risks, learn how to be flexible and use their imagination. Without imagination, no one will be able to stand out from the crowd and go a bit further into the solution, coming up with fresh, new ideas.
Starting with a single idea, the divergent thinker allows his or her mind to wander in many different directions, gathering numerous thoughts and ideas which relate to the concept. Divergent thinking can be used as a method of brainstorming in a wide variety of settings, ranging from the research and development department of a major company to the class room. Divergent thinkers tend to throw the rules out the window. They are artistic and always find ways to express themselves. Impressive 5 year olds scored 98% at the genius level in such a test of divergent thinking. Test takers age 10 however, saw their number drop to 32%, on the other hand the high school level was only 10%. It seems that as student mature through the educational system they have some of these creative instincts driven out or socialized out of them.
It is often said that school teaches us to stop thinking creatively, how to conform, to come up the correct idea or answer: Convergent thinking. But as children grow older, they will be expected to come up with new ideas, projects, and innovations to make them stand out in the job market and on the career level. For too long, "divergent thinking" has taken a backseat to its more well-recognized and well-respected cousin, "critical thinking." I think that building your divergent