Packing Slip 
item |
Developing Creativity in Communication |
contact |
Peter Facciola (South Mountain Community College) peter.facciola@smcmail.maricopa.edu |
college(s) |
South Mountain Community College |
discipline(s) |
Communication, Philosophy |
summary |
I explored the nature of creativity, its development in individuals, and its application to communication and problem solving. |
details |
From May 31 to June 23, 2005, in Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona I read, annotated, and abstracted four seminal works on creativity by the noted cognitive scientists and philosophers Howard Gardner, Susanne Langer, Nelson Goodman, and Ernst Cassirer. Further, I learned about how the nature and development of creativity in individuals can be applied to teaching in the communication discipline. From this I learned how great theorists have defined and studied creativity, how creativity develops in individuals, the nature of the creative process, and how creativity can be induced in learners. From this basis I will be able to develop my own creativity as an instructor, as well as activities to help others develop their own creativity. ------------------------------------------------------------ Outcomes: In a paragraph or two describe what worked well. Did you accomplish your objective(s)? Were you able to complete your summer project as written? If not, what did you modify and why? What did not go as well as expected, if anything? Were there any surprises? Note: Use the questions as guides for your outcomes. Do not include detailed list of workshops attended, speakers who presented, or a list of items you have seen, heard, or read. ------------------------------------------------------------ Generally, the project worked well and I was able to complete it as written. The only surprise was that the texts I studied took much longer than I anticipated to read and study. They were very dense. Yet, I did accomplish my objectives. I gained insight as to why some people seem to have the ability to express themselves in more artistic and creative ways and how they process information using unconventional symbols of thought, and as a result see the world and express it in creative ways. This will translate into a professional advantage for me since I can apply this to my professional responsibilities and to my students who are learning to be effective speakers, problem solvers, and mediators. ------------------------------------------------------------ Professional Growth: Your own professional growth is a large part of your project. Your professional growth is important to you, your students, your college, and possibly other colleagues. How did project affect you professionally? What skills did you learn? What environments were you working in and how might your summer project influence your teaching or other responsibilities? Did you gain a different perspective? Was it professionally valuable for you? ------------------------------------------------------------ I grew substantially as a professional as a result of this project. As I indicated above, I learned about creative process in ways I can apply to teaching communication, conducting conflict mediation and administering courses and program. Specifically, I now have new strategies to approach problem solving and self-expression in instructional and professional communication more creatively. Later, I can develop these strategies into specific techniques I can use in classes to help students become more creative and expressive communicators and problem solvers. ------------------------------------------------------------ Dissemination: How will you share this information with your colleagues, department, students, or college? ------------------------------------------------------------ I will share this information primarily by incorporating the lessons I learned into specific learning activities that I can integrate into the communication classes I teach. I might also conduct a "brown bag" seminar for interested colleagues. Finally, I can provide sources and materials to interested parties as appropriate. Note! As a professional courtesy to the owner of this package, if you use some aspect of this package or have some thoughts about it, please share your feedback via the comments form below. |
web links |
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/fpg/ |
shareback |
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extra |
Last modified: Sep-19-2005 Date created: Sep-19-2005 Visitor count: 4722 Dublin Core Metadata record  This package is included in the Faculty Professional Growth Summer Project Reports special collection. |
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