Critical And Creative
Thinking
Lecture 12 The Problem-Solving Process
IMPORTANT NOTICE
There is substantial evidence from research in cognitive psychology and
neuroscience that distraction can negatively affect learning. Distractions interfere
with one’s ability to process and retain information, leading to decreased focus,
reduced comprehension, and impaired memory consolidation.
For this reason, laptops and tablets are strictly prohibited in this class (unless
otherwise instructed).
If your laptop or tablet is visible you will be marked as having an unauthorized
absence from the class. Each unauthorized absence will reduce your overall grade.
Four or more unauthorized absences mean an automatic grade of 0 for the class.
All slides will be made available on Canvas after the class. If you like to take notes,
you may use pen and paper.
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The Creative Problem-
Solving Process (CPS)
At a simple level we can think of creative thinking as an
attempt to solve a particular kind of problem.
The problem may be which clothes to wear today, what
sentence to open an essay with, or the design of a new
car.
It is helpful to break this process down into various
steps. Whilst there are many different ways to do this,
they all have the following three things in common: an
identification of the problem, proposed solutions,
adoption of a solution.
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The Creative Problem-
Solving Process (CPS)
Alex Osborn (1888-1966) outlined an influential model
of the CPS that retains these three elements buts
builds on them.
The rationale is to break creativity down into different
tasks distinguish between the divergent and
convergent thinking practices in each part.
This way we can avoid conflating the tasks and
missing potentially valuable new ideas and solutions.
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1. Problem Definition
Provide a clear statement of the objective,
goal, or outcome.
Give different perspectives on the
outcome.
Question assumptions about what would
count as “success”.
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2. Preparation
Find all information that may be relevant to
helping you solve the problem successfully.
Break the problem or objective down into
different steps. (Are there multiple aspects
to the problem?)
Develop a research plan for the remaining
tasks.
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3. Idea Production
Generate as many ideas as possible.
Withhold judgement, criticism or doubt at
this stage.
Use a variety of different idea-generation
methods, e.g., brainstorming, thinking hats,
randomization, etc.
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4. Idea Development
Go further with the ideas you have already
provided.
Combine, modify, split, add, reverse. Be
playful.
Adapt and compare to existing ideas.
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5. Evaluation
Establish selection or assessment criteria
for the ideas. (What do you want from your
idea? What would make one idea better
than another?)
Apply them to the list of ideas generated
from stages 3 and 4.
Choose one idea to process to the next
stage.
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6. Adoption
Select the idea or solution that best meets
the original assessment criteria
Create an implementation plan to give the
idea everything it needs to succeed, e.g.,
resources, effort, people, etc.
Implement the idea or solution.
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Assignment
You will choose one creative problem-solving task. In groups
you will carry out the 6-step Creative Problem-Solving Process
(CPT).
Once you have collected all your information, you then need to
illustrate the process, the decisions made, and the outcomes in
a flow diagram presented as an A4-A3 poster.
Though you can work as a group for the fact-finding, idea-
finding, and solution-finding phases, the poster must be
made individually. The assignment is graded individually.
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Assignment
OPTIONS
A. Create a strategy to prevent the malicious
use of deepfakes on social media.
B. Create a strategy to improve air quality in
Hanoi.
C. Create a strategy to fix the replication crisis
in science.
D. Design a new VinCore course.
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Assessment Criteria
Aspect Description Score
Fact Finding (i) Research about the problem, questioning assumptions, boundaries of the /20
case (ii) Development, preparation and planning
Idea Finding (i) Generate ideas using at least 3 different methods (ii) Go further with the /20
ideas, develop further, combine
Solution Finding (i) Evaluate the proposals, selection criteria, choose one idea (ii) Adoption /20
and identify resources needed to implement it
Communication Clear communication of each stage, using images, tables and other /20
innovative information graphics
Plausibility How plausible is the proposal? Can it be realized? Will it achieve the goals? /20
Total = /100
Assignment
You will need to carry out the fact finding, idea finding,
and solution finding activities outside of class time with
your teammates (1 hour for each part should be enough).
You should then work on your poster by yourself and
submit it through Canvas by the deadline: Friday 3rd
January 23:59.
Some good examples are available on Canvas for
guidance. Use the rest of the class time to work on the
assignment.
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