CUIN 6371 Models of Teaching Fall, 2003 Howard L. Jones Day 6 Synectics

Information Processing Inductive- Jerome Bruner/ Hilda Taba Deductive- David Ausubel Inquiry- J. J. Schwab/J. Richard Suchman Jean Piaget/ L. Kohlberg Memory - R. Atkinson/J. Levin/J. Lucas Creativity- W. J. J. Gordon

Together, we analyze a little humor Are these FUNNY, OK, or NOT FUNNY?…

Synectics – diverse elements together Learning through making connections

“ A writer lives in awe of words for they can be cruel or kind, and they can change their meanings right in front of you. They pick up flavors and odors like butter in a refrigerator.” John Steinbeck ( )

Gordon’s Assumptions Creativity is important in everyday activities The process of creativity is not mysterious Creative invention is the same in all fields Creative thinking, as wells as individual and group invention are very similar

Our Role as Teachers… Bringing the creative process to consciousness… Recalling that the emotional component of creativity is often more important that the intellectual, the irrational more important than the rational

Finally…. Assisting students in analyzing certain irrational and emotional processes and, in doing so, increasing creative expression.

Blocks to Creativity… One right answer That’s not logical Follow the rules Be practical Avoid ambiguity Play is frivolous Don’t be foolish I’m not creative Roger van Oech – “A Whack on the Side of the Head”

Synectics Moves Pick a topic, any topic Making the Strange Familiar Making the Familiar Strange

Synectics Moves Stretching Exercises… How is a shower bath like a rainy day? How is a prison like a rainy day? How is a laugh like a rainy day? How is a school like a salad? How is a computer keyboard like Jello? How are parents like frozen yogurt? If the ocean were a sea of teachers, what would the foam be?

More Stretching Exercises…. Which smells better, a rotting rose or a sweet skunk? Is an onion louder than a lie? How come? Which is more likely, a screaming mouse or a quiet drum? Which gains more speed, a falling body or a rumor? Who is more sour, a Tory in Boston in 1776 or a lemon?

Synectics Moves Stretching Exercises Direct Analogy How is a bear like a cat? How is a principal like a dragon? How is a whisper like a kitten’s fur? How is a Priest like a doormat? How are parentheses like a fence?

Direct Analogy How is a volcano like a cut? What animal makes you think of George Washington in his predicament at Valley Forge What things around him could have given ancient man his first notion of the wheel? What animal might the Eskimos have learned how to hunt seals? What in nature might have led to the invention of the zipper? How could a caveman have invented the concept of clothes from looking at a bear?

Direct Analogy Which is worse, America in 1812 with no tax base or a tree with no nutrients in its soil? In 1812, all American ships were held in their home ports under an embargo. So such economic damage was caused that finally American ships were allowed to trade with anyone BUT France and England. How is a fox that is chased into its den like an embargo? How is enforcing an embargo like Boyle’s Law?

Direct Analogy A magnet is made of tiny magnets, all lined up so that their north poles face in one direction and the south poles face in the other. How is a well-disciplined marching regiment like a magnet? What would the soldiers of the parading regiment do if a bomb fell in their midst? If a magnet acts like the soldiers. What do you think would happen if you strike a magnet with a hammer?

Synectics Moves Stretching Exercises Direct Analogy Personal Analogies/Metaphors

Personal Metaphor You are a weed growing in the middle of a neighbor’s yard…how do you feel? What’s it like living there, especially knowing that you came from another yard? How do you feel when he discovers you? How does the lawn mower feel? How about the herbicide?

Synectics Moves Stretching Exercises Direct Analogy Personal Analogies/Metaphors Compressed Conflicts “words that fight each other,” Oxymorons

Compressed Conflicts … aka Oxymorons Know anyone who is an “exquisite irritant”? How is an embargo like “vulnerable protection?” How is Hemmingway’s life and writing exemplary of a “controlled adventure?” Can any part of football be equated with “dance-like violence?”

N S s N Mnemonics Synectics

The OriginalThe Topic Topic Revisited How Synectics Works We Explore Elsewhere

Synectics Moves Stretching Exercises Direct Analogy Personal Analogies/Metaphors Compressed Conflicts “words that fight each other,” Oxymorons Revisit the Original Topic

A brief paragraph … TAKS

Synectics Moves Stretching Exercises Direct Analogy Personal Analogies/Metaphors Compressed Conflicts “words that fight each other,” Oxymorons Revisit the Original Topic

Synectics Moves Pick a topic, any topic Making the Strange Familiar Making the Familiar Strange

Effects of the Synectics Model Nurturant Achievement in Subject Domain Group Cohesion and Productivity Instructional General Creative Capacity Creative Capacity in Subject Domain

So, how does this model work?

J. Dominic Crossan (1975) The Dark Interval: Toward a Theology of Story Types of Story Relation- Ship to World Examples Estab- Defends Inves- Attacks Subverts lishes world tigates world world world “We live in story like fish in a sea…” Dominic Crossan

J. Dominic Crossan (1975) The Dark Interval: Toward a Theology of Story Types of Story Relation- Ship to World Examples Estab- Defends Inves- Attacks Subverts lishes world tigates world world world MYTH You have built a lovely home!

J. Dominic Crossan (1975) The Dark Interval: Toward a Theology of Story Types of Story Relation- Ship to World Examples Estab- Defends Inves- Attacks Subverts lishes world tigates world world world MYTH Apologue The home was built according to the most reasonable plans

J. Dominic Crossan (1975) The Dark Interval: Toward a Theology of Story Types of Story Relation- Ship to World Examples Estab- Defends Inves- Attacks Subverts lishes world tigates world world world MYTH Apologue Action Within the home are people who have many adventures.

J. Dominic Crossan (1975) The Dark Interval: Toward a Theology of Story Types of Story Relation- Ship to World Examples Estab- Defends Inves- Attacks Subverts lishes world tigates world world world MYTH Apologue Action Satire However, the behaviors of the home are a bit weird and unusual.

J. Dominic Crossan (1975) The Dark Interval: Toward a Theology of Story Types of Story Relation- Ship to World Examples Estab- Defends Inves- Attacks Subverts lishes world tigates world world world MYTH Apologue Action SatireParable Unfortunately, the home is right above a major earthquake fault.

The OriginalThe Topic Topic Revisited How Synectics Works We Explore Elsewhere

So how about our humor?

My point?

Next … The Existential Models…