One step to creativity Judit Fehér IATEFL Hungary conference October 2015

What’s this object? What did we do that made this activity creative?

What’s this object? We turned one object into another object

What is creativity? Creativity is transforming one thing into another. Roger Von Oech Creative thinking is ‘double-minded’ thinking that ‘operates on more than one plane’. Arthur Koestler

What is discovery? Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something A. Szent-Györgyi

What is understanding and humour? p. 118 ”… to understand … that always requires a tiny little jump of the intellect, a minute hop that connects one thing to another… To ‘get’ a joke requires a similar mental skip...”

What do we do when our minds work creatively? Transform one thing to another Think on more than one plane See something different Jump, hop, skip intellectually Transition

One step: Transition Information Opinion Perception Creative thinking

Creating the right gap – Mind the width!

Classroom activities

Telltale objectsPage 68 Transitions / thinking planes person - object between points of view

J. and C. Hadfield: My day so farPage 55 What object is it? Lay on the desk, wrote a letter, drew a picture, scribbled on the wall, ran out of ink, ended up in the waste paper bin. A pen

J. and C. Hadfield: My day so farPage 55 What did they do? ScissorsComputerMobile phone HandcuffsKnifeChairSun cream PencilBookMirrorDoormat HammockBrushPillowT-shirt Camera Cup Shoes Door Teddy bearCarChewing gum

J. and C. Hadfield: My day so farPage 55 Transitions / thinking planes passive – active object – person activities – thing verbs – noun points of view

Who is speaking to whom? ”If... anyone scolds you – wash. If you slip and fall off something and somebody laughs at you – wash.... Whatever difficulty you may be in, you can’t go wrong if you wash. If you come into a room full of people you do not know, and who are confusing to you, sit right down in the midst of them and start washing. They’ll end up by quieting down and watching you. Some noise frightens you into a jump, and somebody you know saw you were frightened – begin washing immediately. If somebody calls you and you don’t care to come and still you don’t wish to make it a direct insult – wash... And of course you also wash to get clean and to keep clean.”

J. and C. Hadfield: Maternal advice Pp

Transitions / thinking planes part - whole animal behaviour - human behaviour behaviour - animal usual behaviour - advice

T. Woodward: Combined objectsPage 155 Fridge Computer Bedroom Window Ticket Garden Chair Sun cream Pencil Dictionary Picture Hammock Music Chocolate Pillow Coffee T-shirt Camera Perfume Doormat

T. Woodward: Combined objectsPage 155 Transitions / thinking planes one object – another object separated - combined never heard / thought of - imagined

T. Woodward: Unusual connectionsPage 153

Transitions / thinking planes person - an animal / thing different - similar the usual concept of what is comparable - - a unique concept of what is comparable

Describing a picture creatively Make it a ‘double-minded’ activity. Add some elements of transition / transformation.

Describing a picture creatively 1. Part – whole a. Limiting information part of picture, short time for viewing, not everyone can see it, etc. b. Extending before – after; things / people not in the picture; reasons, cause – effect; sound and voices, etc. 2. Person – person and person - object monologues, speech bubbles, role play, drama, story, etc.

Transition to a more creative way of teaching Free download here

Who are they? 5 people who … are presenters at + contributed to

One step to creativity Thank you!