A Ride in a BMW or an Old Bus? : Visualization, Metaphor and Creative Thinking


Gül Peker B.

Twenty-fifth International Conference on Learning, Athens, Greece, 21 - 23 June 2018, pp.74

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
  • City: Athens
  • Country: Greece
  • Page Numbers: pp.74
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

"Creativity in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language has been dealt with in terms of classroom tasks using drama activities, games and songs in order to enhance learners’ motivation and make learning more enjoyable (Richards and Cotterall, 2016). This workshop takes a broader view of creativity and argues that creative thinking can be taught and exercised. It stresses the pivotal role of the way we use our neurology emphasizing that we always create something first in the form of a thought and that we can use conscious thinking strategies to rewire our brains to achieve our goals in life. By way of introduction, this workshop will first draw attention to our deep-rooted misconceptions such as the lack of belief in one’s creativity and the belief that creativity is originality (Dilts, 1990) which, sadly, have been brought about by the limited way our rational minds have been educated. The workshop will then engage participants in creative thinking activities using two conscious thinking strategies: visualization and metaphor. First, the participants will experience three kinds of visualization: simple visualization for relaxation and creative visualization and the Disney Creativity Strategy for achieving both personal and professional goals (Gawain, 1998). The second thinking strategy that the participants will experience is the use of metaphor, more specifically creative metaphors and metaphors for learning (Revell and Norman, 1999). This strategy builds on the idea that making metaphorical comparisons between seemingly unrelated concepts can be fun and provoke useful insights into one’s usual patterns of thought."