Problem Solving Through Productive Thinking - Online Course

One of the greatest abilities of leaders - whether in management positions or on the front line - is the ability to see the root of problems and quickly enact effective solutions. This series will pass on some of the skills and tips that will help you to better identify problems, find their causes, and get their solutions under way.

This series is for anyone interested in developing problem solving skills through better, more effective thinking. This online course contains 4 lessons and should take approximately 7 hours to complete.

Lesson 1: The Concept of Productive Thinking (1.0) hour

The Concept of Productive Thinking teaches you how to describe how productive thinking differs from reproductive thinking, identify the six steps for thinking productively, identify three reasons for thinking better, describe why thinking avoidance mechanisms occur, and identify three types of thinking avoidance mechanisms. This course provides information about concepts and ideas that support productive thinking. It also discusses how to recognize mechanisms that deter productive thinking. Topics include Foundational concepts, Why think better?, and Thinking is hard work.

Lesson 2: Productive Thinking in Principle (2.0) hours

Productive Thinking in Principle teaches you how to define reproductive and productive thinking, identify the three levels of reproductive thinking, describe the characteristics of creative and critical thinking, describe the difficulties that people have with staying in the question in order to avoid simply settling for an answer, and describe the tools you need to make better use of your brainstorming sessions. This course provides information about reproductive and productive thinking. It discusses the differences between critical and creative thinking, which are thinking skills that assist in the productive thinking process. This course also describes habits that can help you get more out of your brainstorming sessions. Topics include Reproductive thinking, Productive thinking, Being open to the possible, and Brainstorming in thirds.

Lesson 3: The Productive Thinking Model (3.0) hours

The Productive Thinking Model teaches you how to describe the six steps in the Productive Thinking Model and the various substeps contained in each step, and use various tools and exercises, such as I3, DRIVE, C5, AIM, POWER, and KnoWonder to navigate through the Productive Thinking Model. This course explores a problem-solving model of six steps: identifying problems, establishing Success Criteria, asking the right questions, generating answers, forging solutions, and aligning resources. Topics include An overview of the Productive Thinking Model, What's going on?, What's success?, What's the question?, Generate answers, Forge the solution, and Align resources.

Lesson 4: Productive Thinking in Practice (1.0) hour

Productive Thinking in Practice teaches you how to explain the six steps of the Productive Thinking Model, identify the most appropriate conditions for using the Productive Thinking Model, and describe techniques to incorporate productive thinking into everyday behavior. This course provides information about how to think productively. It also recommends ideal situations for applying productive thinking and outlines how to put productive thinking skills into practice. Topics include Reviewing the Productive Thinking Model, When is the Model appropriate?, and Using the Model.