101 Activities For Teaching Creativity And Problem Solving

Ticklers: Related and Unrelated Stimuli 93

101 Activities for Teaching Creativity and Problem Solving.Copyright © 2005 by John Wiley &

Sons, Inc. Reproduced by permission of Pfeiffer, an Imprint of Wiley. http://www.pfeiffer.com

Materials, Supplies, and Equipment

• For each group: markers, two flip charts, and masking tape for posting flip-chart
  sheets


• For each participant: one sheet each of three different colors of sticking dots
  (^1 ⁄ 2 ” diameter) and one pad of 4 x 6 Post-it®Notes
  •(Optional) A dictionary or other book containing lists of words (for example, “Random
  House Word Menu”)

Handouts

• List of Stimulus Words Handout


• PICLed Brains Handout

Time

45 minutes

Related Activities

• Excerpt Excitation [13]


• Say What? [20]


• Text Tickler [21]

Procedure

1. Distribute the List of Stimulus Words Handout (feel free to add other words or
   have group members add their own words).


2. Distribute the PICLed Brains Handout, one copy per person or post the words on
   a flip chart. Explain how to use the words and answer any questions they may
   have.


3. Instruct the individuals in each group to take turns picking one word unrelated to
   the challenge.


4. Tell them the group should use each word to free-associate and try to think of
   ideas to resolve the challenge. Note: if a word doesn’t result in any ideas, they
   should select another word.


5. Tell them to write down any ideas on Post-it®Notes (one idea per note) and place
   them on flip charts for evaluation.

Debrief/Discussion

Some people have trouble using stimuli that are unrelated to a challenge, since they are

not directly related. Ask participants to discuss why this might be. Other questions might

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