Creativity and Cognition

Grant:

Instructional Development Fund (IDF)

Academic Year:

2016 - 2017 (June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017)

Funding Requested:

$500.00

Project Dates:

Thu, 10/06/2016 - Thu, 10/06/2016

Applicant(s):

mptr

bethhay

Graduate Student/Postdoc:

Kuan-Ting Ho kuanting@umich.edu

Overview of the Project:

IDF Project Summary
Title: Creativity and Cognition

The Creativity and Cognition proposal seeks support in the amount of $500 for the engagement of Robert Root-Bernstein, Professor of Physiology and noted expert in the field of creativity and cognition, to visit the Stamps Senior Integrative Projects Studio on Thurs., October 6, 2016. His highly-regarded book, Sparks of Genius: 13 Thinking Tools of the World’s Most Creative People, examines the common “thinking tools” of creative geniuses across a range of disciplines revealing the links between internal imagination and external experience. The 13 “thinking tools” he outlines—observing, imaging, abstracting, recognizing patterns, forming patterns, analogizing, body thinking, empathizing, dimensional thinking, modeling, playing, transforming, and synthesizing—form the bedrock of the Integrative Projects Studio experience. Dr. Root-Bernstein’s insights about the roles these cognitive processes play in the creative enterprise will expose students to a varied range of mental and physical tools for their use in envisioning imaginative approaches and innovative solutions in their art and design practices.

Final Report Fields

Project Objectives:

To expose students to a varied range of mental and physical tools for their use in envisioning imaginative approaches and innovative solutions in their art and design senior thesis projects.

Project Achievements:

Thanks to support from the CRLT Instructional Development Fund, Robert Root-Bernstein, Professor of Physiology and noted expert in the field of creativity and cognition, visited our Integrative Projects class on October 6, 2016. His highly-regarded book, Sparks of Genius: 13 Thinking Tools of the World’s Most Creative People, examines the common “thinking tools” of creative geniuses across a range of disciplines revealing the links between internal imagination and external experience. He spoke about his research and engaged in conversation with students about various cross-disciplinary approaches to creative inquiry. An opportunity to speak with a renowned scientist about our understandings of the creative process greatly enhanced students’ understanding of their own practice and introduced practical“thinking tools” that could be applied in the studio experience.

Continuation:

No.

Dissemination:

As a reflection on the efficacy of our encounter with Professor Root-Berstein, IP student Jerika Tillman summarized his visit in an article posted on the Stamps School of Art and Design’s Home Page: "While Root-Bernstein's talk revolved around his own research, there were astounding parallels between his work and the core principles of the Stamps curriculum: interdisciplinary creative practice, inquiry-led work, community engagement, and creative excellence."

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