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Palm-Mensa
Palm Beach County Mensa Newsletter
January, 2005
Contents
Notes from the Underground by Barry Karas will return next month.
Sparks - Fostering Creative Thinking Skills
by Keri Guilbault
[Reprinted from The Flame, newsletter of Central Florida Mensa, October, 2003; Stephen Murray, Editor]
Creativity is a trait that many gifted individuals possess and is a skill that may be developed and strengthened through practice. Our American society and its traditional school system has for years placed more value on analytic thinking skills, asking students to regurgitate facts rather than think for themselves. With new discoveries over the past decade that explain how the brain functions and how students learn, teachers have begun to value right-brained processes more and more although many find it difficult to apply in the classroom if they are not creative individuals themselves. It is important for parents of gifted students to understand how to foster creativity at home and at school so that they may support their gifted child as our culture shifts to a more visually stimulated and right-brained world.
What is meant by creativity? Is it the ability to produce original works because of an innate talent or perspective? Is it the ability to think quickly or come up with many different innovative ideas? Is creativity a unique sense of perception? The answer to these questions is "Yes!" Creativity can be defined and assessed in different ways. There are several main behavioral components of creativity frequently referred to in teacher education programs. Some of these traits include humor, fluency (number of ideas one is able to generate), flexibility (ability to adapt, modify and combine ideas), originality, and elaboration of thought. Creative individuals tend to possess some or all of the above-mentioned traits. By modeling these processes, one can sharpen and eventually improve his or her creative abilities. For teachers, here is a practical example of how these processes could be applied to a classroom project on the topic of Dinosaurs:
Fluency: Brainstorm a list of ideas related to the topic. Think of as many dinosaurs as you can.
Flexibility: Come up with a variety of categories related to the topic. Group various dinosaurs according to their common characteristics- carnivores/herbivores/omnivores, land/water/air creatures, size, number of horns, etc.
Originality: Come up with unique and uncommon ideas related to the topic. Invent a new species of dinosaur and create a diagram or model of it.
Elaboration: Add details, expanding and refining them. Combine 2 different kinds of creatures to create a new type of dinosaur. Add as many details as you can think of.
For students, think about how you can apply these skills to the study of more advanced topics or subjects. Consider also how these skills can be applied to a hobby, interest, problem or challenge in your life. One strategy used in gifted classrooms to help develop creative thinking is the SCAMPER technique. Some businesses also use this technique during brainstorming sessions. SCAMPER is an acronym that stands for the following:
S- Substitute: What can be replaced to change the idea or product?
C- Combine: How can you combine elements with something else? What can be added or what other items can be synthesized?
A- Adapt: How can you alter some aspect of it?
M- Modify, minify, and magnify: What can be changed made smaller or larger?
P- Put to other uses: What other uses can it be put to?
E- Elaborate or eliminate: What details can be added? What portion could be removed?
R- Rearrange or reverse: How can you move any component in another way to change the original?
Try using the SCAMPER technique at school or home. This may improve your inventions, creative writing, art, or other original work. Keeping a journal, or record of ideas, allows you to return to and reflect on them later- which also allows for self-assessment and metacognition. Note what worked well and what challenges are being faced as you proceed through each step. Gifted students should remember that with more practice of this technique, the more naturally your ideas will begin to flow!
The SCAMPER technique was developed by Bob Eberle
Reference: Barrett, Susan It's All in Your Head
Member News
Palm Beach County Mensa ended November with 338 members. We gained 6, brand new, renewing or moving into our area. Welcome or welcome back to: Heather Bamper, Port St. Lucie; Allan Gentile, Boca Raton; Christopher Martin, Port St. Lucie; Andrew Ritchason, Boca Raton; Robert Stark, Delray Beach; and Sean Walsh, Boynton Beach. Come on out to an event or organize one yourself. We'd like to meet you!
Wanted!
An Editor for this newsletter--receive news from the National Office, print member-related info, get it printed at Kinko's. Call Elissa if interested (561-496-0124).
A Membership Director to welcome new members and keep track of our numbers. Again, call Elissa if interested (561-496-0124).
The Tenth Story - January 2005
By Elissa Rudolph
Scott Rainey, RVC 9, and Marghretta McBean, RVC1, took many photos at the Coronado Springs Resort. Go to: http://www.or.us.mensa.org/pix/2004q4/ to see what this venue looks like. Plan to be there in 2006 at the World Gathering!
Speaking of unusual gatherings, this one sounds fascinating. Borderline Mensa hosts the Colloquium, "Earth in Mind: Fueling the Future" on March 4-6, 2005, in Tucson, Arizona. If you've been thinking about the purchase of a hybrid vehicle or an energy-saving home, well qualified experts in the sustainable energy field will tell you what you need to consider when making these purchases. To register, go to http://colloquium.us.mensa.org. Registration is $150 for members, $200 for non-members through mid-February. This weekend will give you a glimpse into the future!
ValenTime, Feb. 11-13, Northwest Florida's RG on the white sand beaches of the Panhandle, www.nwflorida.us.mensa.org/valentime.html
Colloquium 2005, Earth in Mind: Fueling the Future,: March 4-6, 2005, Tucson, AZ, www.colloquium.us.mensa.org
MindGames, April 15-17, hosted by our very own Tampa Bay Mensa, Double Tree Hotel-Tampa Westshore Airport. Registration- $65 to 4/1. Send registrations to MindGames 2005, 1229 Corporate Drive W, Arlington, TX 76006-6103.
FloRanGe '05-Suite Mayhem, Broward Mensa's RG over Memorial Day weekend, May 27-30, Tampa Bay Mensa's traditional spot on the calendar. Since that group is doing MindGames, Broward Mensa is hosting the 3-day RG in Fort Lauderdale. Can't miss a chance to party! Contact Robin Rhea, 954.575.1639, robinrhea@bellsouth.net for information.
Elissa Rudolph
RVC10@us.mensa.org
5054 Lakefront Blvd., Apt. D
Delray Beach, FL 33484
561-496-0124
Note: The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and DO NOT reflect opinions of Palm Beach County Mensa, its officers, or of American Mensa, Ltd., which holds NO opinions.
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