An integration of "systems" and "synectic" approaches and an unconventional use of role-playing are salient features of the problem solving workshop, looking for fresh approaches to the improvement of undergraduate education. (JH)

Summarizes and compares three creativity training programs for elementary and high school students: Productive Thinking Program (1966), Purdue Creative Thinking Program (1971), and Sidney Parnes' courses in creativity (1959). (ED)

The author advocates the development of creative thinking and problem-solving in students as an extra dimension necessary to prepare them for future challenges and problems of society. (References are included.) (EA)

The first purposes of this project were to develop a new measure of Creative Problem-Solving (Improving Research Testing) and to develop new scoring criteria for the College Situations Problems. In addition, evidence concerning the reliability and validity of nine new variables derived from these two measures was examined. Adequate levels of…

The development and use of intuitive thinking, at all levels of education, have been of concern to scholars in recent years. This paper discusses the findings and theories of various scholars about intuitive thinking and learning, including the work of Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner, Richard Jones, and Robert Ornstein. The paper also explores the use…

A small-group tutorial technique is described that develops creative thinking in students having difficulties in problem solving. (MP)

Sixty graduate students sorted stories according to three dimensions for classifying analogies: (1) physical similarity; (2) similarity in goals; and (3) whether the analogy leads to a reformulation of the question. High interrater agreement supports the use of the three dimensions to understand earlier inconsistent results in analogical problem…

Proposes a strategy employing challenge, functionalism, high-order learning, and originality to achieve high-quality individualization in course work. Asserts that individualized instruction better prepares students to solve problems, make decisions, and produce original ideas. (MM)

Among ways suggested for teaching problem solving strategies are to select problem situations appropriate to the learner and to encourage learning from errors. A problem solving process which can be used with young children includes the components of formulation; interpretation; generation; decision making; implementation; evaluation; and…

An enrichment program based on the Purdue Three-Stage Model (creative thinking abilities, creative problem solving, and independent study and research skills) resulted in no significant differences in self-concept scores for 199 gifted elementary participants compared to control Ss. Participants did, however, show significant differences in…

This curriculum focuses on using creative thinking and conflict resolution skills in controversial discussions, highlighting the use of nonadversarial dialogue through the story of a fictional town caught in a controversy over whether or not to mandate school uniforms. The story that unfolds provides a case study in how to resolve public, as well…

The purpose of this self-teaching guide is to assist educators in assessing their capability of thinking outside the box in solving problems. The content is based on training sessions and research papers presented at various conferences during the 1999-2000 academic year. "Thinking outside the box" (TOB) is defined as a problem-solving power that…

Describes a kind of final exam questions that encourage creative thinking and problem solving and involvement by the students. Five examples from a course on neoclassic literature are provided. (TO)

The aims of this paper are to affirm the importance of developing sequential models of psychological process-particularly of such complex psychological phenomena of prime concern to theory and application as learning, problem solving, and creativity-and to argue that factor analysis has delineated component processes for these sequential models.…