Thinking - Defined

Process information Stimuli response

Manipulation of information, form concepts, engage in problem

solving, reason and decision making.
Mental activity involving the use of symbols, such as words or
images.
Observation, Inference, Confirmation
 ..
.. manifests
manifests in
in aa behaviour
behaviour

..
.. is
is reflected
reflected in
in an
an attitude
attitude

THINKING ..
.. aims
aims at
at the
the solution
solution of
of problems
problems
THINKING

.
. involves
involves the
the manipulation
manipulation of
of mental
mental skills
skills

.
. is
is aa mental
mental process
process requiring
requiring knowledge
knowledge
A General Definition of
Thinking
 Good thinker Vs. Bad
thinker

Good Thinker Poor Thinker

Welcomes problematic situations Prefers situations which are more definite

Open to multiple possibilities Prefers limited possibilities

Uses evidence skilfully Ignore evidence

Make judgement only after considering all angles Quick to make judgement

Listens to other peoples views Ignore other peoples views

Reflective Impulsive

Perseveres in searching for information Gives up easily and is lazy to think further

Glatthorn and Baron (1985) and Nickerson (1987) developed a list

of attributes of good and poor thinkers
Processes In Thinking
Imagery

Language

Concepts
Imagination
The ability of forming mental images,
sensations and concepts, in a moment
when they are not perceived through
sight, hearing or other senses.
The work of the mind that helps create.
Helps provide meaning to experience
and understanding to knowledge
Fundamental facility through which
people make sense of the world
Key role in the learning process
Voluntary , involuntary

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

Albert Einstein
Creativity
Create involving the use of the imagination or
original ideas in order to create something.

Creative bringing into being something that

was not there before
Pausing, finding out new ideas and techniques of
doing things

Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a

person creates something new (a product, a
solution, a work of art etc.) that has some kind of
value.

Creativity comes from the Latin term cre "to create,

make"

Sensitivity is when one uses all
the senses to investigate the world.
It has been suggested that highly
creative people experience the
physical world with greater
intensity than the rest of us
Halpern, 1984, p.319). Sensitivity
also relates to the ability not only
to solve problems but also find
problems. SENSITIVIT
Y
Synergy is the bringing
together of seemingly
disparate parts into a useful
and functioning whole. In
other words. Diverse and
different bits of information
and ideas a re synthesised or
brought together to form and
work as a new entity.
IDEA?
SYNERGY

SERENDIPIT
Y Origin of a Creative
Idea

Serendipity means making discoveries by accident or unexpected discovery that

comes about when bits of information are bought together (quite similar to
illumination). For example, a new idea is discovered as a result of an accident or
mishap. In fact, most inventions and discoveries result from a methodological and
systematic process requiring persistence, motivation and sheer hard work.
Remember the old saying; Success is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration.
Types of thinking

Convergent thinking
Focus on single solution
Info problem solving result I solution

Divergent thinking
Generate multiple solutions to a problem
Includes autistic thinking , convergent thinking

After divergent thinking ideas structures

through convergent thinking

Vertical thinking
Lateral thinking
CONVERGENT THINKING:
This is a predominant style of thinking in contemporary technological
society.
locates a problem at the "center" of our focus and then gather
peripheral resources down to the problem,(resource converge on
problem)
Most often a single best solution that is sought.
Convergent thinking is generally associated with math and science
An example of convergent thinking might involve
Taking a multiple choice test in which there is a single "correct" answer.
What could be the best materials for construction in a given climatic
condition & function?
listing various climatic responsive materials. also suitable for the
functional aspects.
Convergent Thinking
Divergent Thinking

DIVERGENT THINKING:
Divergent thinking involves stimulus(issue) as form of a
problem, and locate this at the center
Gathering information and branch off (diverge) in new
perspectives providing
more possibilities & options.
Instead of a single correct answer, there may be a whole host of
possibilities.
Divergent thinking is generally associated with the humanities
and fine arts.
An example of using divergent thinking might involve
Critical Thinking Creative
Thinking
analytic generative
convergent divergent
vertical lateral
probability possibility
judgment suspended judgment
focused diffuse
objective subjective
answer an answer
left brain right brain
verbal visual
linear associative
reasoning richness,
novelty
Visual thinking
Visual Imagery

Perceptual Imagery

Mental Imagery

Clarity, Control

Graphic Imagery

To communicate to others, To
ourselves
 Visual thinking is transforming
verbal information into visual-
graphic representation
Words divide, pictures unite (this
is my favorite one!)
Visuals-drawings are international,
everybody understand them while
words change based on the
different languages
Visual thinking helps to simplify