1. How to be creative Dr Bel Youngson
RCOT Conference 12 June @OTBelY

2. Aim: Engaging with and developing your creativity Session plan:
What is creativity
Exercise
How to be creative
Attentive looking
Planning a project
Making connections
Ideas for exploration and design
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3. What is creativity?
“Creativity is the innate capacity to think and act in original ways, to be inventive, to be imaginative and to find new and original solutions to needs, problems and forms of expression. It can be used in all activities. Its processes and outcomes are meaningful to its user and generate positive feelings.”
(Schmid 2005 p29)

4. Can you do it using 3 lines or fewer?
Nine dot exercise
Join the 9 dots , using 4 straight lines only. Your pen must not leave the page and you may not repeat any line.
Can you do it using 3 lines or fewer?
(Whitmore 2017, p128)
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5. Some nine dot solutions
(Whitmore 2017, p265)
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6. @OTBelY annabel.youngson@cumbria.ac.uk

7. What does this tell us about creativity ?
Self limiting assumptions restrict creative solutions (“It can’t be done......”)
What if ?
“When you are sure that you have no more ideas, just come up with one more”
Oxford dictionary (2016)
(Whitmore 2017, p126)
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8. “Creative hunting and gathering” End-loaded or front-loaded approaches
How to be creative
“Creative hunting and gathering”
End-loaded or front-loaded approaches
The journey – manageable stages
Reflective practice
Sketch/note book
(Thomas 2011, p11)
(Triston and Lombard 2011)
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9. Record/draw/annotate what’s around you Look up Look down
Attentive looking
Don’t hurry
Observe the details
Record/draw/annotate what’s around you
Look up
Look down
Look for new things
What interests you?
What’s missing?
(Triston and Lombard, 2011)
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10. “The wonder of occupational therapy” Exhibition hall
Planning a project
“The wonder of occupational therapy”
Exhibition hall
Creative hunting & gathering (Thomas 2011)
Possibilities, inspiration
Attentive looking (Triston & Lombard 2011)
Photos Leaflets
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11. t Making connections What goes where? How to fit it together? Themes
Words
Dominant ideas
Think
Investigate
Play
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12. Ideas for exploration and design
How ‘green’ is your occupational therapy?
Maps
Cards
The occupational therapy book of wonder
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13. Sharing and reflection
Experience of creativity
Usefulness for practice?
Next steps?
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14. References
Thomas B (2011) Creative Expression Activities for Teens: Exploring Identity through Art, Craft and Journaling. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Triston J and Lombard R (2011) How to be creative in textile art. London: Batsford
Schmid T (2005) A theory of creativity: an innate capacity in T Schmid (Ed) Promoting Health Through Creativity. London: Whurr Publishers Ltd, pp27-53
Whitmore J (2017) Coaching for performance (5th ed). London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing
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15. Websites and further reading
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