By Yin Nwe Ko
THINKING skill has not been popular in Myanmar until the beginning of the 21st century. Most teachers in Myanmar have already known four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Now, almost every teacher become aware of the presence of thinking skills and their importance vividly. There are several types of thinking skills viz. convergent thinking, divergent thinking, critical thinking, creative thinking, etc. Among them, I would like to emphasize the last one.
The idea behind the School or University Life competencies is that they prepare learners with skills that will be useful in the English language classroom and their future work environment. This article will also look at how creative thinking competency can be incorporated into classroom activities for teens and how this practice could directly impact a given work situation. Now, let us make a glimpse at it with the following categories.
Thinking outside the box
One of the essential concepts behind Creative Thinking is the ability to “Think outside the box”, to solve problems by coming up with new and original solutions or by taking a different angle on things. This requires us to be open-minded, organized, communicative (being a good listener is essential), and curious (feeling the need to enquire and ask questions about a topic). However, it doesn’t necessarily require an amazing imagination; this is a common misconception about Creative Thinking. It is all to do with honing the skills, resources, and prior knowledge that particular students may have at their disposal.
Front classroom task
To show the connection between the classroom world and that of the work environment, consider the current topic of the climate crisis and climate strikes and what we can do in our daily lives to help save the planet. The fact that Greta Thunberg, a Swedish, has had such a prominent role in environmental activism in the world should, of course, act as an inspiration for teenage students in the classroom. Indeed, a nice angle for the topic is to focus on this new breed of teenage activists who come from different parts of the world but share Greta’s concerns. However, the important thing here is to engage the learners not just with the content but with the skill of employing their ideas to solve problems rather than just repeating ones that have been previously suggested. Students could start by brainstorming their eco-friendly suggestions and applying them to their school environment.
In the real world of the work
It is not difficult for these practical suggestions to be transposed to a work setting. Indeed, for examples such as these, we could choose virtually any professional context. The skill on the part of the students lies in applying what they know to that particular situation. For example, we could ask students to imagine they worked for the marketing department of a world trade fair or conference. How could they employ their knowledge of eco-friendly products to make their marketing plans more respectful of the environment?
To ask this question, students need to think of different angles on the topic and respond imaginatively. For example, they could think of the freebies that marketing departments give to customers - say at a trade fair - and how the materials could be greener. For instance, rather than gifts such as plastic USB sticks, these could be made of bamboo and bags made from a potato-based product. To do this, students need only look around them at other examples from their worlds (e.g., potato-based bags are now available in most supermarkets) and apply them to their new context. Other freebie products could be stainless-steel water bottles and reusable or “keep” cups. Students could then think of other people who are involved in organizing the trade fair or conference and suggest action points for them too. By doing this, we are making the employment of their ideas to solve problems relevant to the real world and their future.
Adaptation and Collaboration
As mentioned earlier, the important thing about an approach like this is that it does not require learners to be great innovators or inventors, the “Thinking outside the box” is done within the restrictions of students’ prior knowledge and world experience. Indeed, bringing in ideas and solutions from other life domains (e.g., family or social life, hobbies, and interests) as potential templates for understanding or solving work challenges is one of the most important “can do” statements for the Creative Thinking competency.
Another key skill descriptor for this competency is the important link made with Collaboration. It is not just a case of having the idea but being able to convince colleagues of the need to take a certain action or go in a certain direction. Again, this is another skill that can easily be practised in class whenever students need to work in groups to solve a problem, and once again it stands the students in good stead for their future work experience.
Importance of Creative Thinking
It is easy to get stuck in the same thought patterns, especially at work. However, those thought patterns may be hampering one’s innovation and keeping them stuck in routines that do not serve them. Creative thinking shows us that there are many solutions to any problem, and developing one’s creative thinking skills helps them recognize innovative solutions more quickly. Plus, creativity was the most sought-after soft skill in 2020, so strengthening their creativity skills can set them apart at work, too. Alongside critical thinking and focus, creative thinking is crucial to help recognize patterns that may not be obvious at first glance. Thinking creatively makes one a better problem-solver, which has far-reaching benefits in both their work and personal life. Expressive, creative thinking helps us challenge our own assumptions, discover new things about ourselves and our perspective, stay mentally sharp, and even be more optimistic.
The Benefits of creative thinking
Creative thinking does not just make one a better employee; it also makes one a better parent, student, and leader, too. By developing one’s creative thinking skills, the benefits of thinking creatively can show up throughout their daily life.
Improved problem-solving capabilities
We do not just solve problems at work, and we should not only use our creative thinking skills at work, either! Developing one’s creative thinking abilities can help one solve a wide variety of problems faster. As one’s mind becomes more accustomed to using different thought techniques, one will quickly recognize patterns that one might not have before.
Stronger interpersonal connections
Creative thinking can help one communicate their ideas more clearly, which leads to better conversations and relationships with their friends, family, and coworkers. Plus, many creative thinking methods work best when they are done in a group. Developing new ideas together can strengthen bonds and help them combine ideas to create something truly innovative.
Heightened productivity
It may seem like creative thinking is a time-consuming distraction from one’s work, but that could not be further from the truth. When we get stuck in thought patterns, it’s easy to get frustrated when something is not working correctly. That frustration can cause our productivity to plummet. Taking a moment and engaging in a creative thinking strategy can renew one’s motivation, reinvigorate one’s passion, and help one find new solutions when they are stuck.
Higher self-awareness
Creative thinking allows one to try on perspectives that one may not have considered before. As one is exploring new perspectives, one may discover something about their own assumptions, viewpoints, or biases that one never noticed. Challenging one’s traditional way of thinking can offer higher self-awareness and build one’s emotional intelligence. With creative thinking, one strengthens their ability to reframe their perspective and harness a growth mindset.
To sum up my article, I would like to focus on some factors that our teachers should always be aware of the changing and improving advanced techniques and concepts in education. We should not have drowned in our textbooks daily. We should keep abreast of our qualifications with the international aspects in order to raise and improve our students’ abilities day after day.
Reference: Teaching Teen & Better Up
