Creative problem solving course - Student perceptions of creativity and comparisons of creative problem solving methodologies

Abstract

A new course in creative problem solving was developed and administered. The course explores the core competencies of creativity through in-class activities and games, as well as assigned work. In addition, the students study and implement various methodologies of creative problem solving through various problems and product development assignments. Teamwork is emphasized and each student is given at least two opportunities to act as a team leader during a problem solving or product development project. All students' leadership skills are both selfassessed and assessed by each team member. On the first day of the course, the students were surveyed on their general perceptions of creativity, problem solving, teamwork, leadership, the role of creativity in engineering, and their personal view on their own creativity. After the course, the same survey was administered. A comparison of the pre and post-course surveys yields a shift in perceptions. Six methods of creative problem solving were explored by the students. The methods, which vary in number of steps from four to eight, were compared and broken into five general steps. At the conclusion of the course, the students analyzed the effectiveness of the course. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2008.