English
Log In
Creative Thinking & Problem Solving - Let's Design a Game
David Morgan-Mar, Ph.D.
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(131)
This 6-week course teaches creative thinking and problem solving skills, using the context of designing a board game to demonstrate and reinforce the techniques.
Class Experience
This course teaches general techniques of creative thinking and problem solving, which can be applied to many real world problems and design processes. To reinforce the skills, students will use them in a practical project - designing a brand new board game. Each lesson will introduce a specific method in the creative problem solving process, with examples. The students will then use that method to perform the next stage of board game design, guided by the teacher. By the end of the course,...
6 lessons//6 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Defining the ProblemWe look at how to analyse a problem or goal, to identify the critical issues that require answers, as well as any distracting information that is less important. Students will learn the thinking hats technique to focus their thinking on the current task. We will define basic parameters of our board game and discuss what our goal is.Week 2Lesson 2BrainstormingWe examine the idea of divergent thinking to generate new ideas. We look at several techniques to assist in thinking "outside the box" to come up with inventive solutions to problems. We will brainstorm several aspects of our board game design, and produce creative ideas that will make the game exciting and novel.Week 3Lesson 3ConvergenceWe focus on methods for analysing and evaluating ideas, to narrow down to concepts that can provide good solutions to the problem at hand. Students will learn to constructively criticise ideas, both their own and those of other people. We will select some of the ideas created in week 2 to use in our board game.Week 4Lesson 4Develop and CombineWe look at how to grow existing ideas in fruitful directions, towards our creative goal. Ideas can be combined to produce new and cool solutions to problems. We explore how modifying ideas and pulling in ideas from other parts of the creative process may lead to new insights. Our game starts to take shape, as we combine a select few mechanics into a working system.Week 5Lesson 5Prototype and TestOur game is now ready to play. We test it out (between weeks 4 and 5) and go through a critical appraisal to see what works well, and what doesn't work. We learn that sometimes a cool idea is not the best solution to a problem, and it should be discarded (though keep it in mind for future problems!). We focus on what achieved the goal (being fun!), and work to enhance that aspect.Week 6Lesson 6Iterate and VerifyWe try out our modified game (between weeks 5 and 6) - hopefully it will be better! Students learn the method of iteration to refine an idea to maximise its potential for solving the initial problem. Then we are ready for the final stage, verification. Students are encouraged to share the game with family and friends, soliciting external feedback for future cycles of improvement.
- Creative thinking and problem solving techniques: problem analysis, defining the goal, brainstorming, lateral thinking, idea generation, divergent/convergent thinking, idea evaluation, risk/benefit analysis, combining ideas, verification of solutions.
- Students will experience working in a group environment, learning how to give and receive goal-oriented constructive criticism.
- The Six Thinking Hats method for structuring creative thinking and problem solving, to provide discipline when working on a problem.
I am a published game writer and designer, with multiple writing credits in the GURPS roleplaying game system by Steve Jackson Games, as well as gaming articles published in Pyramid magazine. I am also a trained and authorised teacher of Primary Ethics in the New South Wales government education system, a course which covers critical thinking concepts. I have been teaching K-6 students face-to-face as a volunteer in the NSW school system since 2012.
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Homework
Frequency: includedFeedback: includedDetails: Students will be given simple tasks to practise and reinforce the thinking techniques they have learnt during each lesson. These tasks can be done alone, or preferably with the assistance and input of family members. Homework tasks can be done in a few minutes, or can be practised as often as the student wishes. Between weeks 5 and 6, the student will have a board game they helped design. They should print it out and play the game a few times with family or friends. The family/friends should give constructive feedback, saying both what they enjoyed about it, and what aspects they think could be improved.Certificate of Completion
Frequency: 1 after class completionDetails: A certificate will be provided, listing the creative thinking and problem solving skills covered during the course.
Learners will need writing paper and a pen/pencil for the thinking exercises during the class. Between classes, learners will also need to print out a few pages of game board elements, to test the game that we will be designing. Cardboard, writing implements, and scissors will be useful. They will also need access to common board game supplies such as dice and small game pieces. Copies of the class notes will be posted in the Outschool classroom for download after each lesson.
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined January, 2021
5.0
131reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Doctoral Degree in Science from University of Sydney
Bachelor's Degree in Science from University of Sydney
I'm a professional scientist and photographer, with experience teaching children science and ethics in Sydney, Australia. I have a bachelor's degree in physics and mathematics, and a doctorate in astronomy. I've been a research scientist in optics...
Reviews
Group Class
$80
for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
55 min
Completed by 10 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
2-6 learners per class
