Laughter, Innovation, Critical Thinking, and Collaboration

Get Out Of Your Cozy Corner!

We will begin this class period by getting into prescribed small groups that were carefully designed to promote a diverse balance of personality types. Each member of the group will be given a name tag to be worn throughout the class period.  The name tag will eliminate any insecurities about not remembering names.

Laugh and Be Vulnerable.

Once we've settled into our small groups, you will be prompted with a series of ice-breaker questions that will open up avenues of discussion and provide the opportunity to get to know each other on a deeper level.  This activity requires silliness and laughter, but it also requires letting down your guard, trusting your group members, and being courageous enough to be vulnerable and share deeply.  We will spend about 20 minutes on this activity before we draw numbers from a hat and move to the next randomized group.

Helpful Links

Guilford’s Alternative Uses Task (1967)  
Portlandia "Art Project" episode
Shea Hembrey:  How I became 100 Artists
Joe Gebbia:  Executing Your Idea
Brene Brown:  Why Your Critics Aren't The Ones Who Count
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Alternative Uses Test

Once we've the ice-breaker portion of the class is complete, you will be required to collaborate on the Guilford Alternative Task Test that was designed in 1967.  This is a divergent thinking test that will require you to conjure as many possible uses for an object in a certain time frame.  We will be using a 10 minute time frame.  After we have finished the test, we will score the tests together.   This activity will be used as a building block for the next, more challenging task.

Group Innovative Thinking

Once more, you will be moved to another group within the room by drawing a number from a hat. After you are with your new group, you will be given 20 minutes to conjure a list of as many possible creative solutions to a specific topic that is assigned to your table.  The goal of this activity is to build off of the thinking that was required in the alternative uses test, and work together as a team to conjure BIG ideas that adress contemporary themes in creative ways.  As you think, as yourselves:  "How could we address this theme as a work of ART?".   Think in terms of galleries, museums, site specific locations, and beyond.

Group Homework

We will not have enough time in class to completely refine the BIG ideas with your group.  In the final 5 minutes of the class, you'll be asked to figure out how you will communicate with your group before our next meeting to bring resolution to your idea. Next class, we will move to the gallery, where the groups will pitch the ideas in a way that helps us visualize the work you invented.

Closure 

As I do with most projects, I want each of you to reflect and write about your experience today.  This reflection will take place in the blog section of your website and will be used to enhance this experience for the future of this activity.  Please address the following prompts in a well-written blog post.  

1.  What was the value of today's class?

2.  Did today make you think differently about your body of work and your approach to art-making? Please elaborate if so.

3.  What changes could be made to this activity that would benefit you?

4.  What was your favorite part of this activity?

5.  What other ways might we be able to become closer as a class, and drive innovative thinking even further?