Professional Skills: Creative Thinking

Overview

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Fuel your innovation with powerful tools to unlock new ideas. Learn to think creatively in real-world situations through a course designed for flexible, hands-on learning. Creative thinking is more than a skill — it's a mindset that can transform the way you approach problems in work and life. This self-paced course, developed by Dr. Brent Scholar of the ASU College of Integrative Arts and Sciences, empowers you with strategies, resources, and tools to overcome mental blocks and generate original solutions. You’ll explore practical techniques like mind mapping, group ideation, and curiosity-driven inquiry—then put them to use in interactive exercises. Whether you're facing everyday challenges or driving innovation at work, this course will help you grow your capacity to think outside the box, solve everyday challenges, and drive innovation in your workplace.

Syllabus

Thinking creatively on your own

This module focuses on developing your individual creative thinking skills. You will explore the underlying causes and resources that foster creativity, learn various techniques for generating innovative ideas independently, and practice applying these methods to real-world scenarios. By the end of this module, you will be equipped to approach problems with a fresh perspective and generate novel solutions on your own.

Thinking creatively with a group

This module shifts focus to collaborative creative thinking, teaching you how to effectively generate innovative ideas within a group setting. You will learn about the dynamics that foster group creativity, explore techniques for collective brainstorming, and understand how to leverage diverse perspectives to achieve breakthrough solutions. This module will prepare you to contribute meaningfully to team-based creative endeavors.

Course conclusion

This concluding module offers an opportunity to provide feedback on your experience and acknowledge your successful completion of the course. This module serves as a final step in solidifying your understanding and celebrating your newly acquired creative thinking skills.