There are many techniques for creative thinking that adults and adolescents can utilize in order to gain access to all of the many unique and imaginative ideas hiding in the mind. For small kids, it is often easy to write creatively because they havent yet been exposed to negative critiques of their writing and are therefore freer to explore. As we get older, it is important to access that freedom we had as children in order to tap our creative resources.
Techniques for Creative Thinking and Writing
The key to creative thinking is suspending judgment. This is true whether you are writing an academic essay or simply participating in a writing exercise. When it comes to creativity, we are often our own harshest critics. I dont know about you, but sometimes I can sit for hours trying to perfect a single sentence I keep telling myself isnt good enough.
In order to grow as a creative writer, you positively must stop being judgmental of your own work and just let go. At first this might be difficult (especially for some of my fellow perfectionists). I can assure you, however, that once you suspend judgment you will be able to think more freely, and therefore write more creatively.
An excellent technique I recommend for creative thinking/writing involves writing a brief description of ten of your closest friends. Try to restrict these descriptions to only a paragraph each. When writing, dont worry as much about structure as you do about brainstorming and free association. In other words, write whatever comes to mind. Not only do I think youll be surprised at the creativity of what you write, but you might also gain insight into what you really think of the people you have chosen to use as your subjects!
They key to good communication is listening. Unless we listen to the person or persons with whom we are communicating, there is no way that we can accurately participate in a conversation. Becoming a good listener is a discipline that requires practice. Rest assured, however, that once you master the art of listening, you will also master the art of communication.
Communication Through Listening
Children arent known for their listening skills. This is because kids have little experience with negotiation, and out of immaturity, only want to get their points across with little regard for anyone else. Sound like some adults you know? If so, you are not alone. If not given the proper tools for listening and communicating as kids, children often grow up to be poor communicators as adults.
One way for adults and children to improve their listening skills is to maintain eye contact with the speaker. Doing so puts individuals in direct contact with one another and prevents boredom/interruption from setting in. Without eye contact, individuals who are supposed to be listening often drift off (mentally) in order to try and form a good rebuttal without gaining all of the necessary information.
Another way to improve listening skills is to enforce a self-imposed rule that you will not interrupt. This is hard for many of us because we cant wait to throw in our two cents of information. In not allowing yourself to interrupt the speaker, you force yourself to listen to the other persons entire argument, therefore improving your chances of responding correctly. After a few weeks of the no-interruption rule, you will find you are less anxious to suspend the conversation, and more interested in actually listening.
Nearly all children can benefit from a course in reading comprehension. Even kids who are avid readers can gain insight into reading comprehension courses because such classes often help advanced readers improve speed and understanding. Since reading is such a huge aspect of life both in and out of school, individuals should to all they can to improve their reading skills.
Reading Comprehension: Some Helpful Tips
If you are the parent of a child who isnt a good reader, you should help him/her improve sooner rather than later. Children who know how to read well are at a constant advantage over those who do not. In school, nearly every subject requires a great deal of reading. Neglecting to help a child who is having difficulty reading is setting him/her up for future frustration.
One way that parents can help children learn to become better readers is by allowing them to read whatever they want. Too often, parents make the mistake of believing that magazines dont count when it comes to reading. This is absolutely untrue. Children who arent great readers are often intimidated by books (even small ones). Magazines are less daunting and provide the perfect exercise medium.
Confidence also plays a huge role in reading comprehension. The more self-assured children are in their abilities to read, the more they will challenge themselves. Parents can play a huge role in such confidence building by encouraging their children and supporting their progress. Quite often, children who dont display immediate interest in reading need only positive encouragement from their parents to get on the right track.
Summer camp internships are excellent work opportunities that often provide kids with college credit. Depending on the college you attend and/or the major you are pursing, there are literally dozens of summer camps that provide school credit in exchange for a summer working as a counselor/coordinator at a residential camp. As someone who interned as a counselor at an academic camp, I cant think of a better way to spend the summer!
Internships at Summer Camp
The key to working as an intern at a summer camp is finding the summer camp that best suits your personality and your overall goals. Fortunately, there are literally hundreds of summer camps from which to choose. From summer camps that specialize in working with special needs campers, to academic camps with an emphasis on learning and tutoring, the options are endless. Just make sure that you evaluate your options carefully so that you can make an educated decision on where to spend your summer.
Once you have identified the type of camp where you would like to intern, you need to decide whether you want to participate in a day camp or residential program. I recommend residential camps because they are much more fun and allow interns to truly immerse themselves in the experience. Residential summer camps also typically offer more credit to participating interns.
Individuals who are not yet college students, but want to volunteer at a summer camp, are doing themselves a great service in that summer camp internships look great on college applications. This is especially true of academic interns who choose to work at a summer camp where participants are somehow challenged. In most cases, individuals who apply at these types of camps in the hopes of helping others often find that they are the ones who end up being helped. A summer volunteering with challenged kids is an eye-opening experience that forever positively influences your life.
Presentation skills are necessary to people of all walks of life. Whether you are a college professor or a plumber, knowing how to present an argument or point of view effectively and informatively can aid in a variety of different aspects of life. As someone with a great deal of experience training others to develop effective presentations skills, allow me to offer the following tips.
When most people think of presentation skills, they often recall images of public speeches and/or professional dialogue. While presentation skills definitely come in handy in such instances, they are used more often by individuals who are simply trying to communicate their points of view in a casual setting. When was the last time, for instance, you tried to convince a friend or co-worker to help you with a task? In doing so, you relied on presentation skills to influence that person.
The Art of Presentation
When presenting an argument to an individual and/or group of individuals, your voice plays a key role. How you say something is just as (if not more so) important as what you say. When presenting an argument, make sure you are calm and confident. Be aware of how fast you are speaking. In addition, make notes as to what you plan to say before making your presentation; doing so will prevent you from veering off course and/or losing your train of thought.
Just as important as your verbal language is your body language. Some of the most influential speakers in the world are individuals who command attention with their bodies. Avoid fidgeting while you are speaking and try and adopt a casual but commanding stance. Body language plays an important role in presentation in that individuals dont want to appear too casual but they dont want to come off as too aggressive. The more confident you are in your presentation skills, the better your body language is likely to become.
Presentation is all about effective communication. Maintain eye contact and speak slowly. Map out key points of your presentation and deliver those points in a structured and sensible manner. In the end I think you will find that the more you refine your presentation skills, the more likely you are to win over your subjects.