Assignment: Creative Problem Solving

Phase 1: Explore Your Challenge

Reflect on a challenge you encountered in your language learning journey which prompted the application of the creative problem-solving (CPS) process. Examples include:

• Expanding your vocabulary to enhance your reading comprehension
• Improving the fluency and coherence of your speaking
• Enhancing the quality of idea development in your essays
• Increasing your comprehension of academic lectures

Work in groups of five throughout this activity. Use divergent thinking (to generate multiple perspectives on the problem) and convergent thinking (to clarify and define the challenge precisely).

Feel free to generate your own examples.

Phase 2: Generate and Refine Solutions

In your groups, use divergent thinking to brainstorm 20 ideas within a set a time limit. Subsequently, apply convergent thinking to evaluate, cluster and narrow your ideas- first to 5 and then 3- using the methods you learned in class. Evidence of all stages (from idea generation to refinement) should appear in your presentation.

Presentation Instructions (20 minutes per group)

Each group will deliver a 20-minute presentation that demonstrates the application of the CPS process to a language-learning challenge. Your presentation should address the following points:

1. Describe the Challenge
   Explain the nature of the challenge in detail and how it impacted your language learning. As a group, agree on one challenge and describe how you used divergent and convergent thinking to decide on a challenge you have all faced in the past.
2. Preparing for Creativity
   Discuss what you did to prepare yourselves to think creatively and engage with the CPS process. Refer to some of the strategies or ideas you generated during class activities.
3. Applying the CPS Process
   Explain how you used divergent and convergent thinking throughout your work. Begin with 20 ideas, narrow them down to 5, and then select your top 3 ideas using a simple comparison or rating method (for example, visually mapping your decision-making process). Be sure to describe the specific strategies you applied during the CPS process and how your group made final selections.
4. Explaining Creativity
   Describe why you consider your final ideas creative. Refer to the criteria or dimensions of creativity discussed in class and examples from previous group discussions.
5. Offering Recommendations
   Conclude with recommendations for other ESL students on how they can apply creative problem-solving skills in their own language-learning experiences.