101 Activities For Teaching Creativity And Problem Solving

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

Handout

• Problem Reversals Handout

Time

30 minutes

Related Activities

• Exaggerate That [39]


• Law Breaker [50]


• Turn Around [52]

Procedure

1. Distribute the handout, review it with the participants, and answer any questions
   they may have.


2. Instruct the groups to state their problems simply and clearly and write them on a
   flip chart for all to see.


3. Read the following aloud:
   “Reverse the direction of your problem statement. This reversal doesn’t have to be a direct reversal
   of any particular problem aspect. You may change the verb, the goal, or any words in the definition.
   Thus, reversal is defined broadly as any change in a problem statement.”


4. Tell them to write down on a flip chart each reversal as a new (possibly silly-
   sounding) problem statement, beginning with the phrase, “How might we.. .?


5. Direct them to use each reversal as a stimulus for new ideas, write the ideas on
   Post-it®Notes, and place them on a flip chart for evaluation.

Debrief/Discussion

Reversals have great potential for all-purpose idea generation. They provide an easy way

to “force” people to view an initial problem differently. They figuratively force one out of

a current “thinking box” and into another with the ability to trigger new ideas. You may

want to emphasize that a reversal, as used in this exercise, does not have to be a direct or

literal change. Changing any aspect of a problem often is all that is required.

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