Infusing the creative-thinking process into undergraduate STEM education: An overview

Abstract

In this project, we develop and deliver a workshop to teach undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) faculty the creative thinking process and help them to develop modules for their classes. Leaning on ideas back to Plato's Theaetetus, we divide the creative process into seven discrete stages, and have developed exercises to help STEM faculty to explore and internalize these concepts. While we believe that many scientists invoke the creative process in their work regularly, we also believe that learning the creative process and practicing creative-process thinking can help STEM faculty and students to invoke this process more fluidly, expediently, and effectively. Initial feedback from the workshop indicates that the nine faculty who participated in the workshop report an increased understanding of the creative thinking process and increased comfort level with incorporating these ideas into their classes, among other things.