Introducing Imagination, Association, Functional

Fixedness

Contents of Presentation

• Objective of lecture• Definition of Functional fixedness • Functional Fixedness of adults• Saucepan seeing beyond the assigned function• MacGyver – Solving problems• Street Art & Imagination• Memory and Association

Contents (con’t)

• Association and Problem solving• TASK: Association• Association words from task • TASK: Matches• TASK: Chair• Children and Functionally Fixed• Check Learning • Recommendations

Objective of lecture

• To understand Functional fixedness –To understand how Functional

fixedness limits creativity –To use ‘Street Art’ to demonstrate how

artists are not functionally fixed –To demonstrate how imagination is

limited when one is functionally fixed

Definition of Functional Fixedness

• According to Karl Duncker (1945) functional fixedness is the

‘mental block against using an object in a new way that is required to solve a problem’ (Duncker 1945:i).

Quiz

Functional fixedness is A mental block against using an object in a new way that is required to solve a problem

Functional fixedness is A physical block against using an object in an old way that is required to solve a problem

Correct? Correct?

Functional fixedness in Adults

• Developing creativity in adults often involves challenging the ‘functional fixedness’ of objects and allowing the freedom to play, experiment and discover (LLC Books 2010).

• Functional fixedness stunt good problem solving skills

Saucepan -seeing beyond the assigned function

MacGyver – Solving problems

• MacGyver Pirates Escape From Water

Street Art & Imagination • Imagination is the formation of a mental

image of something that is neither perceived as real nor present to the senses - Seeing an image in one’s mind

• Creative street art –Using imagination–New ways to see objects and the world

A pole becomes a nose

A road grate becomes a rib cage

Drains become legs

Timber becomes pencils

Stone cobbles become a keyboard

A missing brick exposes gold

Little people live in the blocks

The drain becomes mouth with a cigarette

A bush becomes hair

Steps becomes a miniature world

A few loose bricks become loose teeth

Quiz• Imagination is The disintegration of mental images. It is something that is perceived as real nor present to the senses – not being able to see an image in one’s mind

• Imagination is The formation of a mental image of something that is neither perceived as real nor present to the senses - Seeing an image in one’s mind

Correct? Correct?

Correct

Wrong

Memory and Association

• Memory seems to operate as a chain of associations: concepts, words and ideas are interlinked, so that stimuli such as a person’s face will call up the associated name

• Creativity can be limited when associations are not made conscious and challenged

• Conscious ‘associations’ can improve problem solving skills

• Associations are necessary if we are to build knowledge of an object

Association and Problem solving

• Steel wire for fishing: –Associated words:– ‘strong’ , ‘flexible’, ‘sewing’

Problem solving: used to sew outside equipment because

its strong flexible and can be used in a needle.

TASK: Association

• A box of matches:• In small groups list association words….

Association words from task

• As children we are told not to play with matches

• Only used for to light a fire• Dangerous • Strong associations • Making the associations conscious.• Park the associations now and try and think

about the object differently

TASK: Matches

• Using a box of matches – In groups how many uses can you come up with

for a box of matches

• In order to play with possible uses we must first break the functional fixedness of the object

TASK: Chair

• In Groups list a number of uses for a Chair? • Think about the different senses and how they

could be explored; Hearing, Taste, Touch, sight, smell?

• Actions; games and uses?• Children play with Chairs

Children and Functionally Fixed

• Children grow into functional fixedness • Children as they grow learn narrow and

limited functions to objects • Children are not limited by imagination or

function

Check learning

• In pairs: –Discuss the main points of the lecture

• Merge into small groups– Discuss the points from the pairs – Nominate one speaker

• Feedback to the large group through the tutor

Quiz Which answer is correct?

• Children become functionally fixed

• Children are functionally fixed

Correct? Correct?

Wrong

Right

Recommendations

• Move to ‘What if’ thinking • Embrace the absurd• ‘Play’ with objects• Challenge associations and function• See the world differently

END