Yesterday Mr. Dean gave our class a lecture about 'Creativity in Class'. At first, I thought it would be kind of boring... But actually, it was quite interesting for me.
First, he told us that creativity is production, not reproduction, and creativity is fun, but not easy, and creativity is researchable, but it isn't a magic. He also told about an experiment which a psychologist did. He would hang up two ropes on the ceiling of the room, and then make people to hold both ropes. People couldn't catch the rope because the ropes were too far to each other. But when the psychologist come into the room and tells the person "I'll give you two more minutes." and hit one of the ropes like it was a accident, and get out of the room, the person in the room figures out how to catch both ropes. He makes one of the ropes swing than go hold another one, and when the end of the rope swings and come toward him, he catches the rope. That is the right way to solve the problem. When the psychologist ask the person, "How did you figure this out?" all the people who did this experiment said, "I don't know. It just came to me." However, this is not true, because the psychologist gave them a hint by hitting the rope.
Secondly, Mr. Dean told us about the Science and Pseudo-Science. He said studies such as astronomy is science and astrology(telling the future by looking at stars) is pseudo-science.
Third, Mr. Dean told our class some myths about creativity. If you do a little bit of drugs or/and alcohol, it increases creativity, but if you do a lot of drugs or/and alcohol, it decreases creativity. Giving money or prizes also decreases creativity. Also, giving structure increases creativity. An interesting fact about creativity is that you do not have to be good at art in order to be creative. I was quite surprised to know that.
Finally, he talked about controlled distractions to be creative. For example, using random words helps us become creative. Giving money or prizes makes people too focused on something, and the phone makes people too distracted, so Mr. Dean told us that we really need controlled distractions for being creative.
