· Web viewWhat is creativity? What personal traits are commonly associated with creativity? How can people demonstrate creativity? What techniques are used for developing/enhancing

COURSE: Entrepreneurship I UNIT A Entrepreneurship Foundations

ESSENTIAL STANDARD: 2.00 B2

28%

Understand entrepreneurship, product/service management, information management, professional development, emotional intelligence, and operations

OBJECTIVE: 2.05 B2 Utilize critical thinking skills to determine best options/outcomes

Essential Questions: What is creativity? What personal traits are commonly associated with creativity? How can people demonstrate creativity? What techniques are used for developing/enhancing creativity? How can creativity be applied beneficially to solve problems?

UNPACKED CONTENT

Competency 2.05

A. Creativity Quotes1. “Capital isn’t so important in business. Experience isn’t so important. You can get both these things. What is important is ideas. If you have ideas, you have the main asset you need, and there isn’t any limit to what you can do with your business and your life” – Harvey Firestone2. “Creativity is the process of bringing something new into being … creativity requires passion and commitment. Out of the creative act is born symbols and myths. It brings to our awareness what was previously hidden and points to new life. The experience is one of heightened consciousness-ecstasy.” – Rolla May, The Courage to Create3. “A product is creative when it is (a) novel and (b) appropriate. A novel product is original not predictable. The bigger the concept, and the more the product stimulates further work and ideas, the more the product is creative.” – Sternberg & Lubart, Defying the Crowd4. “Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. Creativity involves two processes: thinking, then producing. Innovation is the production or implementation of an idea. If you have ideas, but don’t act on them, you are imaginative but not creative,” – Linda Naiman

B. What is creativity1. The process of producing something that is both original and worthwhile2. Looking at things in new ways3. Finding ways to solve problems

C. What can creativity do?1. How has it affected our lives2. Show this website http://www.youtube.com/embed/QdlBJ-q-JE

D. Personal traits of Creative People1. Curiosity2. Seeing problems as interesting and acceptable3. Confronting challenge4. Constructive discontent5. Optimism

8716 Entrepreneurship I Unit A: Entrepreneurship Foundations Summer 2012, Page 1

http://www.youtube.com/embed/QdlBJ-q-JE

6. Suspending judgment7. Seeing hurdles as leading to improvements and solutions8. Perseverance9. Flexible imagination

E. Ways people can demonstrate creativity

1. Believe in yourself. Positive self-encouragement works

2. Challenge the usual: Ask, “What if…”, Why …?”

3. Use nonlogical thinking. Not everything has to make sense right away. Think backwards – determine the goal you want to achieve – work backwards to determine the steps needed to get there

4. Free your mind! Don’t think of everything in practical form

5. Be flexible – problems are opportunities waiting for a solution Ex: Post-It Notes – View the problems as challenges that offer the opportunity to innovate

6. Brainstorm now; judge later – Entertain all ideas. There is no such thing as a frivolous idea. Develop listening skills. You can learn a lot by listening to other people talk about their wants and needs.

7. Relax! Relaxation is a key part of the creative process

8. Have a playful attitude. Don’t worry about looking foolish

9. Look at failure as a learning experience that will lead to success

10. Model creative behavior. Anyone can learn to think creatively

F. Developing/Enhancing Creativity – 20 Steps from http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/tp/how-to-boost-creativity.htm

1. Commit yourself to developing your creativitya. This is the first step to fully devote yourself to developing your creative abilitiesb. Do not put off your effortsc. Set goals, enlist the help of others and put time aside each day to develop your skills

2. Become an experta. One of the best ways to develop creativity is to become an expert in that areab. By having a rich understanding of the topic, you will be better able to think of novel or innovative solutions

3. Reward you curiositya. one common roadblock to developing creativity is the sense that curiosity is an indulgenceb. rather than reprimanding yourself, reward yourself when you are curious about somethingc. give yourself the opportunity to explore new topics

4. Realize that creativity is sometimes its own rewarda. while rewarding yourself is important, it is also important to develop intrinsic motivationb. sometimes, the true reward of creativity is the process itself, not the product

5. Be willing to take risksa. when it comes to building your creative skills, you need to be willing to take risks in order to advance your abilitiesb. while your efforts may not lead to success every time, you will still be boosting your creative talents and building skills that will serve you well in the future

6. Build your confidencea. insecurity in your abilities can suppress creativity, which is why it is important to build confidenceb. make note of the progress you have made, commend your efforts and always be on the lookout for ways to reward your creativity


http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/tp/how-to-boost-creativity.htm

7. Make time for creativitya. you won’t be able to develop your creative talents if you don’t make time for themb. schedule some time each week to concentrate on some type of creative project

8. Overcome negative attitudes that block creativitya. according to a 2006 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, positive moods can increase your ability to think creatively.b. According to Dr. Adam Anderson, senior author of the study, “If you are doing something that requires you to be creative or be in a think tank, you want to be in a place with good mood.”c. Focus on eliminating negative thoughts or self-criticisms that may impair your ability to develop strong creative skills

9. Fight your fear of failurea. The fear that you might make a mistake or fail in your efforts can paralyze your progress.b. Whenever you find yourself harboring such feelings, remind yourself that mistakes are simply part of the processc. While you may occasionally stumble on your path to creativity, you will eventually reach your goals

10. Brainstorm to inspire new ideasa. brainstorming is a common technique in both academic and professional settings, but it can also be a powerful tool for developing your creativityb. Start by suspending your judgment and self-criticism then start writing down related ideas and possible solutionsc. the goal is to generate as many ideas as possible in a relatively short span of timed. next focus on clarifying and refining your ideas in order to arrive at the best possible choice

11. Realize that most problems have multiple solutionsa. The next time to approach a problem try looking for a variety of solutionsb. instead of simply going with the first idea you have take the time to think of other possible ways to approach the situationc. this simple activity is a great way to build both your problem-solving and creative thinking skills

12. Keep a creativity journala. start keeping a journal to follow your creative process and track the ideas you produceb. a journal is a great way to reflect back on what you have accomplished and look for other possible solutionsc. this journal can be used to save ideas that can later serve as future inspiration

13. Create a mind mapa. a mind map is a great way to connect ideas and look for innovative answers to questionsb. create a mind map by writing down a central topic or wordc. next link related terms or ideas around the central workd. while similar to brainstorming, this technique allows for branching ideas and offers a very visual way of seeing how these ideas are linked

14. Challenge yourselfa. once you have developed some basic creative skills, it is important to continually challenge yourself in order to further advance your abilitiesb. look for more difficult approaches, try out new things and avoid always using the same solutions you have used in the past

15. Try the “Six Hats” techniquea. the six hats technique involves looking at a problem from six differing perspectivesb. by doing this you can produce more ideas than you might have had if you only looked at the situation from one or two points of viewc. Red Hat – look at the situation emotionally – What do your feelings tell you?d. White Hat – look at the situation objectively – What are the facts?e. Yellow Hat – use a positive perspective – Which elements of the solution will work?f. Black Hat – use a negative perspective – Which elements of the solution won’t work?


g. Green Hat – think creatively – What are some alternative ideas?h. Blue Hat – Think broadly – What is the best overall solution

16. Look for sources of inspirationa. never expect creativity to just happenb. look for new sources of inspiration that will give you fresh ideas and motivate you to generate unique answers to questionsc. read a book, visit a museum, listen to your favorite music or engage in a lively debate with a friendd. utilize whatever strategy or technique works best for you

17. Create opportunities for creativitya. in addition to looking for inspiration, you also need to create your own opportunities for creativityb. this might involve tackling a new project or finding new tools to use in your current projects

18. Consider alternative scenariosa. when approaching a problem, utilize “what if..” questions to consider each possible scenariob. if you take a specific approach, what will the outcome be?c. by looking at these alternatives beforehand, you’ll be better able to develop creative solutions to problems

19. Create a flow charta. when you are developing a new project, start by creating a flow chart to track the presentation of the project from start to finishb. look for various paths or sequences of events that might occurc. a flow chart can help you visualize the final product, eliminate potential problems and create unique solutions

20. Try the snowball techniquea. have you ever noticed how one great idea often leads directly to another?b. You can take advantage of this by utilizing a “snowball technique” when you are generating ideas for your projectc. if the idea isn’t appropriate for your current work, set it aside to work on later or implement it in a future project

G. Using Creativity to Solve Problems1. Problems are really opportunities2. Routine problem solving means doing the same thing over and over to come up with the same old solutions3. Creative problem solving includes coming up with new, innovative ways to handle situations

4. Look at problems in different ways - Get the group to change their perspective on the problem. Once people “lock into” one way of looking at things the idea flow will slow to a tickle. Have people take a new persona. Ask them to look at the issue from the perspective of another group – accounting, HR, or sales for example. Ask them to think about how their Grandmother or an 8 year old would solve the problem. These are simple ways to force people into a new perspective and the new perspectives will generate more ideas.

5. Make novel combinations. The ideas that land on the flip chart or whiteboard in a brainstorming session are typically considered individually. Have the group look at the initial list and look for ways to combine the ideas into new ones.

6. Force relationships. Once a group is finished with their initial list, provide them with words, pictures or objects. The objects can be random items, the words can come from a randomly generated list or from pictures in magazines or newspapers. When people have their random word, picture or item, have them create connections between the problem and their item. Use questions like, “How could this item solve our problem?” What attributes of this item could help us solve our problem?”


7. Make their thoughts visible. Have people draw! Too often the brainstorming session has everyone sitting except the person capturing the ideas. Let people doodle and draw and you never know what ideas may be spurred.

8. Think in opposites. Rather than asking your direct problem question, ask the opposite. “How could we ensure no one bought this new product?” could be one example. Capturing the ideas on “the opposite,” will illuminate ideas for solving the actual problem.

9. Think metaphorically. This approach is similar to forcing relationships (and is another way to use your words, pictures or items). Pick a random idea/item and ask the group, “How is this item like our problem?” Metaphors can be a very powerful way to create new ideas where none existed before.

10. Prepare. Too often people are asked to brainstorm a problem with no previous thinking time. If people have time to think about a topic, and let their brains work on it for awhile, they will create more and better ideas. Allow people to be better prepared mentally by sharing the challenges you will be brainstorming some time before the meeting whenever possible.

11. Set a Goal. Research shows and my experience definitely confirms that the simple act of giving people a quantity goal before starting the brainstorming session will lead to a longer list of ideas to consider. Set your goal at least a little higher than you think you can get – and higher than this group typically achieves. Set the goal and watch the group reach it!

H. Applying Creativity1. Practice brainstorming – when you brainstorm, you think freely to generate ideas. During

brainstorming, ideas are not judged as good or bad. Even those that seem silly should be given a fair hearing initially

2. Look at ordinary items in new ways – find a simple item and figure out how many new products or uses you can find for it. With practice, you’ll get better at seeing things in a different light

3. Find creative solutions to common problems – when you find yourself perplexed by a problem, think about how to find a solution. Have you ever used a flat-head screwdriver to pry something open? That’s finding a creative solution to a problem

4. Connect unrelated items – ask a friend to put together a tray of different items. Then try to come up with a new product from the items. This forces you to look at things in new ways

I. Examples of Creativity in Business

1. Red Box started by McDonald’s to get more people into the restaurant

2. Amazon.com started as an on-line book store – Jeff Bexons wanted the name to start with an “A” so it would be listed early in alphabetical order


COURSE: Entrepreneurship I UNIT A Entrepreneurship Foundations

ESSENTIAL STANDARD: 2.00 B2

28%

Understand entrepreneurship, product/service management, information management, professional development, emotional intelligence, and operations

OBJECTIVE: 2.05 B2 Utilize critical-thinking skills to determine best options/outcomes

INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES RELEVANCY TO OBJECTIVE

1. Introduce the objective through the use of 2.05 – Creativity PPT Use outline in Appendix A

2. Have students read the 20 Tips from Psychology for Boosting Creativity for meeting the informational text requirement at the following web site http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/tp/how-to-boost-creativity.htm

Students will use the graphic organizer in Appendix B to summarize each of the 20 tips. (Answers are in Unpacked Content – Item F)

3. Restaurant

You are considering opening your own restaurant in your community and want to sell only organic food. You have always believed that eating organic is the healthiest way a person can live in today’s times.

Divide the class into 6 groups. Each group represents one of the 6 Hats. Use color paper or markers for each color of the Six Hats.




Students will brainstorm and discuss the problem based solely on their color hat.

Use the internet to research information about your community’s demographics – age, income levels, etc. What are the communities beliefs concerning organic food – are they in favor of this type of living and eating style.

Have each group report their findings based upon the information gathered. Then have each member of the class explain why the restaurant should or should not open.

4. Have students complete the Product Innovation Game found in Appendix C.

5. Everyday Edisons

This assignment goes w/ the Everyday Edisons Season 2, Episode 4 video available on Hulu. Students should watch the 26 min video and answer the questions. They will also visit the website of the invention company working in the show, which is based in Charlotte.

Hope your students enjoy seeing some of the concepts in the early part of 2.00 in action.

Links are included in the assignment found in Appendix D

OBJECTIVE: 2.05 B2 Utilize critical-thinking skills to determine best options/outcomes

REFERENCES WEBSITES


Textbook References:

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management – Kathleen Allen and Earl Meyer; Glencoe Publishing; 2006 Edition

Supplemental Resources:

Websites in powerpoint and assignments


OBJECTIVE 2.05APPENDIX OF

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT MATERIALS

2.05SUPPLIES

Supplies NeededWhere Supplies Are Used

Activity Related Appendix/ Lesson Flip Chart or Whiteboard 1 Markers 1 Color paper to match six hats technique


Appendix #A –

Competency 2.05 – Utilize critical-thinking skills to determine best options/outcomes

I. Creativity

A. Definition for creativity

B. Creativity Traits

1.

2.

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4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

C. How do you demonstrate creativity

1.

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a.

b.

3.

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6.

7.

8.8716 Entrepreneurship I Unit A: Entrepreneurship Foundations Summer 2012, Page 10

9.

10.

11.

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13.

14.

D. Developing / Enhancing Creativity

1.

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8.

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19.

20.

II. Using Creativity to Solve Problems

A.

B.

C.

D. Other ways to solve problems

1.

2.

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5.

6.

7.

8.

E. Applying Creativity

1. Practice brainstorming

2. Look at ordinary items in new ways


3. Find creative solutions to common problems

4. Connect unrelated items

F. Examples of Creativity in Business

1. Red Box

2. Amazon.com


Appendix B –

You are to read the 20 Tips from Psychology for Boosting Creativity at the following website.http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/tp/how-to-boost-creativity.htm

Summarize each tip in the chart belowTIPS SUMMARY1. Commit yourself to developing your creativity

2. Become an expert

3. Reward your curiosity

4. Realize that creativity is sometimes its own reward

5. Be willing to take risks

6. Build your confidence

7. Make time for creativity

8. Overcome negative attitudes that block creativity

9. Fight your fear of failure

10. Brainstorm to inspire new ides

11. Realize that most problems have multiple



solutions

12. Keep a creativity journal

13. Create a mind map

14. Challenge yourself

15. Try the “Six Hats” technique

16. Look for sources of inspiration

17. Create opportunities for creativity

18. Consider alternative scenarios

19. Create a flow chart

20. Try the snowball technique

Appendix C –


Experiential Activity: Product Innovation Game

Learning Objectives

Students will learn the difference between personal characteristics and learned skills.

Students will use entrepreneurial skills to create a new innovative product.

Students will learn to create business ideas with limited resources.

Students will receive practice in delivering “30-Second Pitches/Hooks”

Overview

The Product Innovation Game is an excellent activity to start off the course, or to use before students start brainstorming their own ideas for their business plan. Students will be given limited resources, chosen by you, and be given the task to come up with a new creative product. The purpose of this activity is to stimulate creativity and critical thinking, while showing students that they are more than able to create a new invention using very limited resources. This will increase student confidence and motivation when they are faced with the task of brainstorming ideas.

Notes for Instructor

Important Definitions

The 11th Edition Entrepreneurship textbook distinguishes between “Personal Characteristics” of an entrepreneur and the “Skills” needed by an entrepreneur (p.15-16). “Personal Characteristics” are defined as personality traits that are inherent, or consciously demonstrated, whereas “Skills” are abilities learned through training and practice. Some examples are:

“Personal Characteristics”: Courage, Creativity, Curiosity, Determination, Discipline, Empathy, Enthusiasm, Flexibility, Honesty, Patience, Responsibility

“Skills”: Business Skill, Communication Skill, Computer Skill, Decision-Making & Problem Solving Skills, Mathematical Skill, Organizational Skill, People Skills

Time Needed 1-2 Class Periods (50 – 80 minutes)

Materials Needed

Household items, arts & crafts supplies; (examples: cotton swabs, cotton balls, pipe cleaners, glue, tape, string, plastic cups, paper plates)

Teacher Prep 1. Determine what the prize will be for the winning group (can be something like a gift card, or it can be a class reward such as a “Free Homework Pass”).

2. Decide if you are going to have the class vote on the winners, or if you are going to bring in an outside judge (such as a principal). Invite the guest judge to the classroom if applicable.

3. Obtain enough household items & supplies so that each group in the class starts with the same set of materials. Divide the materials into sets before the class starts.


Instruction Before the Game

1. Pose the following question for class discussion: “What kinds of abilities are needed to run a business?”

a. As students are listing abilities, try to sort out which ones they name are “Personal Characteristics” and which ones are “Skills.”

b. Try to see if students can tell the difference overall between the two groups. Ask students if they can leverage “Personal Characteristics” that are natural for them until they develop more “Skills.”

2. Record student answers on the board in columns of “Personal Characteristics” and “Skills.”

3. If it is not discussed, ask students if having a lot of money/resources is absolutely necessary to start a business. Ask students if having certain traits/skills (such as creativity, determination, etc…) can help entrepreneurs start businesses without a great deal of other resources.

Game Instructions

1. Tell students that they will be using their entrepreneurial characteristics and skills to create a brand new product. The product can be real or fantasy, but it is important that they are creative. Also let students know that all groups will be receiving the same limited resources. (Use this time to announce any information about the judge/voting process/prizes).

2. Divide into small groups and pass out the identical sets of supplies. Tell students they have 20-30 minutes (depending on time) to create a totally new product from the materials given.

3. Also tell students that after creating their product, groups will have 1 minute each to present their creation. In their presentation, the students must include:

o The name of the product

o The features and benefits of the product

o A profile of its customers (age, gender, needs, interests, etc…)

Presentations

1. Have groups spend a minute each presenting their new products.

2. If a judge agreed to come into the classroom, let the judge make her or his decision and announce the winner to the class. If the class is voting on the winner, make sure that students are told to not vote for their own group, and to encourage the students to vote on creativity and innovation.

After the Game

1. Hold a debriefing discussion where students are asked to analyze which “Personal Characteristics” and “Skills” they noticed they themselves used during the game (some examples: Creativity, Communication Skills, People Skills, etc…).


2. Be sure that the class unanimously agrees that it does not take a great deal of money and/or resources to create a new innovative product.

Assessment Students can be evaluated during their presentations on the completeness of the assignment, and the rationale behind the product they created.

Students can also be evaluated during the post-game discussion on identifying which abilities are “Personal Characteristics” and which ones are “Skills.” Can be done as a formal, written assignment as well.

Assign values to each component and test the students ability to calculate the EOU.

Modifications The after-game discussion can be done as a class discussion or as a written reflection where students write about what “Personal Characteristics” and “Skills” they used during the game. Students can also reflect on Characteristics and Skills that they were not even aware they possessed!

If materials for the classroom are limited, this activity can be adjusted to any level of limited resources. Have students think of a new use for a simple item in the room (i.e. a pencil) and create a new business idea from that. Again, the focus is on creativity.

Have students complete the product creation as a take-home assignment to allow more time to create and try different things.

Appendix D –

EI 2.00 Everyday EdisonsPart One: Visit the enventys.com website. Enventys is a Charlotte-based company that helps entrepreneurs make their ideas a reality. 8716 Entrepreneurship I Unit A: Entrepreneurship Foundations Summer 2012, Page 18

Explore their site and summarize the services they provide to customers in the space below.Type your answer here.

Explore some of the products they have helped to create. In the space below, tell which product was your favorite or the most interesting to you and why.Type your answer here.

Part Two: Watch the Everyday Edisons Season 2 Episode 4 “Cat Scratch Fever” show on Hulu (26 minutes). Video Link: http://www.hulu.com/watch/114798

What products are they working on developing?Type your answer here.

How does brainstorming play a part in the design process?Type your answer here.

Explain how the different versions of the ideas are tested. Type your answer here.

Which is more important – form (looks) or function? Explain your answer.Type your answer here.

If you had a product idea, do you think it would be important to hire an invention company? Explain your answer.Type your answer here.


http://www.hulu.com/watch/114798

Documents

· Web viewWhat is creativity? What personal traits are commonly associated with creativity? How can people demonstrate creativity? What techniques are used for developing/enhancing