Asian female teacher with smiling look of surprise and pride as she observes her young students raising their hands eagerly.

Foster Problem-Solving & Creativity: Apply Divergent Thinking Strategies in Lesson Plans

Inflexion January 16, 2021

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Divergent thinking is the process of generating multiple ideas to maximize the range of possible solutions, applications and examples. It is the initial stage of creative problem solving where learners have the space and freedom to explore out-of-the-box ideas.

– Faculty Innovation Center, The University of Texas at Austin

INTRO

Include divergent thinking strategies in your lesson plans using instructional strategies. Divergent thinking is the process of generating multiple ideas to maximize the range of possible solutions, applications, and examples.

THINK skills and behaviors are often grounded in critical thinking and inquiry. Examples include: ideation, creativity, innovation, and design thinking. Ultimately, THINK is about approaching situations and ideas with versatile and intentional thinking patterns.

OBJECTIVES

Include divergent thinking strategies in your lesson plans using instructional strategies.

RESOURCE LINKS

PDF: How to Teach: Divergent Thinking

PDF: THINK

ACTIVITY

Include divergent thinking strategies in your lesson plans using instructional strategies such as those from the provided University of Texas at Austin PDF.

Why is Divergent Thinking Important?

Opens possibilities of innovative ways to solve more complex problems.

Fosters empathic understanding of difference and appreciation of varying perspectives.

Builds on learners’ curiosity, encouraging experimentation, risk-taking, perseverance through failure, and self-expression.

Develops creativity, which is often cited as one of the most in-demand skills by employers.

TIPS

Little Things are smaller efforts you can do tomorrow, or within the next week or so.

Like this activity? Check out Inflexion’s full-page THINK document for more ideas.

Categories: Toolkit

Tags: 21st Century Readiness, Inclusive Practices, Student Empowerment, Student Experience, Student Outcomes

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INTRO

OBJECTIVES

RESOURCE LINKS

ACTIVITY

Why is Divergent Thinking Important?

TIPS

Related Articles

Responses