Lateral Thinking? Why don't university uses it?

[Dysmania]

Hi there.

I'm doing an undergraduate in Psychology and Social anthropology. In writings at times after my analysis I can make a new idea based on the analysis. Although, in the University setting it seems that these new ideas diverged from analysis isn't taken into serious consideration.

But why is this so? It seems if I were to do a masters I would need this skill?

How do you feel schools should increase divergent/lateral thinking skills, especially for ADHD?

This is the reason why I feel I am doign so much better in my third-year courses rather than the first year courses I take. It's based less on analysis and more on mechanism which I can understand and apply to new things.

Any thoughts or experiences worth sharing?

[sighduck]

i think, undergraduate degrees are based mainly on you being able to learn the theories and use them effectively, they want to see how well you can understand the existing knowledge on the topic before they go into what you can come up with for yourself. You will find that latteral thinking is highly rewarded in post-grad degrees and often later on in the undergraduate degrees as well

[βĩο₱Ħعℓĩᶏ]

Is lateral thinking something that can be taught? Even with the restrictions of undergrad, I was still able to demonstrate mastery of the pedantic stuff while still being able to think laterally, or "out of box." Teachers didn't get frustrated, or knock me down for it either... So I guess, how hard is it to approach from or lead to a different or unexpected place while fulfilling the tenants of the assignment? And what does it mean "take into serious consideration?" More often than not, I've found teachers, when presented with new arguments, ways of understanding, etc., readily admit, "i don't know."

[rickymooston]

Originally Posted by Dysmania

Hi there.

I'm doing an undergraduate in Psychology and Social anthropology. In writings at times after my analysis I can make a new idea based on the analysis. Although, in the University setting it seems that these new ideas diverged from analysis isn't taken into serious consideration.

Not taken into "serious consideration"? Depends on the course, on the prof and on the purpose of the deliverable being considered.

But why is this so? It seems if I were to do a masters I would need this skill?

In order to run you need to walk; i.e., you need to obtain the common basis. [b]both skills are important

How do you feel schools should increase divergent/lateral thinking skills, especially for ADHD?

People with ADHD, are more likely to be better at lateral thinking.

In terms of teaching lateral thinking, one can teach De Bono

This is the reason why I feel I am doign so much better in my third-year courses rather than the first year courses I take. It's based less on analysis and more on mechanism which I can understand and apply to new things.

Yepper

Soiunds like me.

[mrs. dobbs]

My mom was a professor and one great thing I have to say about her is that she was a big fan of encouraging lateral thinking in students at every level as well as in special education, she loved when her primary school *and* grad students engaged in it, and she taught teachers that to squash a students will and ability to think creatively in the process of mastery, was the worst thing a (perhaps not-so great) instructor could do. But then again, I got my ADD straight from my mom. She has it in spades.

But her students loved her and people respected her because of her creativity and mental flexibility, and her emphasis on teaching teachers and students how to think for themselves, and think creatively. Even still she can explain things in a way where I think "how did she come up with that?!" And loved when her students taught her things, loved saying "I don't know" because it meant *she* was learning too, and got to be creative. She was humble in the classroom I think because she really loved teaching, and 'I don't know' excited her. I think trying to 'teach' lateral thinking is why she got into education in the first place.