Teaching Creative Thinking Using Problem-based Learning

As global competition and technological innovation continue to challenge business organizations, the ability to solve diverse and complex problems has become essential for students in every academic discipline. While pursuing their careers, technology and engineering students will soon realize that the development of creative problem solving skills is fundamental for success in today’s workplace. For several years the author has been teaching creativity using a problem-based learning approach. The author has discovered that learning can be more relevant and interesting to students if they are actively involved in the learning process. In the course the author provides students, individually and in teams, with a variety of unstructured and openended problem solving activities and assignments. These activities and assignments of actual or simulated real world challenges are used to develop creative problem solving skills that will help prepare students for the 21 st century workplace. In the paper, the author will describe the problem-based learning approach used to teach creativity. The author will identify the benefits students derive from problem-based learning. Also, examples of how the author uses problem-based learning activities and assignments to teach creative thinking skills will be provided. Additionally, the author will provide ideas for technology and engineering faculty on how they can utilize problem-based learning in their courses.