LAD 501: Outer and Inner Creativity

Janelle Barlow, Ph.D.

This course covers the theory and practice of creativity in outer accomplishments and inner transformation. To be creative three things are needed: expertise, creativity skills and task motivation. This course assumes that students will bring their own level of expertise to any issue at hand. The course will focus on (1) understanding and developing creativity skills and (2) becoming focused so that task motivation is direct and enhanced by personal organization and knowing one's direction.

Outcome #1: Students will learn the six characteristics of creative people. To enhance their own creative apacities, they will demonstrate this learning by participating in practice sessions.

Outcome #2: Students become sensitive to how they interface with others’ creativity.

Outcome #3: Students understand the concept of overview and apply the concept strategically in their lives.

Outcome #4: Students learn a variety of time management techniques and apply them to their lives.

Course Sessions and Topics

This course is organized into ten, one-hour audiotape sessions. The introductory session, Unbind Your Mind, is presented in both an audio and video format to better acquaint the student with Dr. Barlow. The ten sessions are organized into a thoughtful effective presentation on this topic. We recommend you study the course tapes in their sequential order:

Three (3) textbooks by Dr. Janelle Barlow:

1. Outer Creativity: Managing Personal Performance,
2. Unbind Your Mind,
3. Mind Flexors. (Available only through the Philosophical Research Society-use order code: CRM-Barlow)

Foster, Jack, How to Get Ideas, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 1996; ISBN: 157675006X

Margaret A. Boden, The Creative Mind: Myths & Mechanisms, Basic Books, 1990.

Daniel Boorstin, The Discoverers, New York: Vintage Books, 1985

John Briggs, Fire in the Crucible: The Self-Creation of Creativity and Genius, Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc., 1988.

Denis Dutton and Michael Krausz, The Concept of Creativity in Science and Art, Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1981.

R. Donald Gamache and Robert Lawrence Kuhn, The Creativity Infusion, New York: Harper Business, 1989.

D. N. Perkins, The Mind's Best Work, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1981.

Milton Rokeach, The Open and Closed Mind, New York: Basic Books

Denise Shekerjian, Uncommon Genius: How Great Ideas Are Born, New York: Viking Press, 1990.

Anthony Storr, Churchill's Black Dog, Kafka's Mice, Ballantine, 1988.

Bill Baker, The Care and Feeding of Ideas, Times Books, 1993.

Recommended Readings - Personal Organization

Peter F. Drucker, Managing for Results, Harper Business, 1964.

Barbara Hemphill, Taming the Paper Tiger, Kiplinger Books, 1992.

Jeremy Rifkin, The Wars, Henry Holt, 1987.

Stephanie Winston, The Organized Executive, Warner Books, 1983.

Phone Conferences– Thursdays, April 12 and May 10, 2007

From 5:00 to 6:00 P.M., Pacific Coast Time, all students participate in these conferences with Dr. Barlow. Each of these two conferences have been designed around topics and issues, however, the first conference will also give you an opportunity to clarify any questions related to the course. See Conference Call Calendar and Teleconference Codes for instructions.

Topics and Issues for First Conference Call–Thursday, April 12, 2007

1. Review tapes 1-3 and be prepared to discuss the creativity portion of the workbook assignment by the first teleconference.
2. Be prepared to discuss the application of techniques presented in this course and how they are working for you.
3. Be prepared to discuss your ideas for your creative project.

Topics and Issues for Second Conference Call– Thursday, May 10, 2007

Review tapes 4-8 and be prepared to discuss the progress you've made in your creative project or creative focus area.
(1) Be prepared to discuss how the techniques presented in this course are assisting you in making the desired behavior changes.

Email Discussion Group "thetruth"

Email discussion groups encourage group discussion on the topics, issues and concepts presented in each course. Students are encouraged to use this discussion forum to share their ideas, insights and questions with one another. A single email message reaches all students and the faculty member at one time. This discussion group has also been put in place to help remove some of the geographic isolation which may be felt between students, and add an extra link to the natural and vital bond that develops in any spiritual community. All students with a current email address listed with Holmes Institute are automatically subscribed to the email discussion group for this course. The instructor will respond to emails throughout the course. Use this email address:

thetruth@yahoogroups.com

If you desire to respond to an individual in the group, please use his/her personal email address on your class roster or the faculty contact information in Faculty Directory for Spring Quarter 2007.

Course Outline - Weeks 1 through 5

This outline gives a brief description of how to pace your self-study and gage your progress in the required course activities throughout the academic quarter.

Lesson Objectives:

1. To identify the appropriate statements, from among three or more options, showing an understanding of:

• Characteristics of creative people;
• The technique of mind-mapping and holographic thinking,
• Assumptions of the course
• Reason(s) why people have problems with creative thinking.

2. To identify their “Big Falsehoods” and apply the concepts to their creativity projects.

3. To mind map and apply this technique to their creativity project.

4. To understand the technique of holographic thinking, including asking direct and indirect
     questions, and applying this technique to their creativity projects.

Required Reading: See the Inner Creativity Workbook assignments for audio tape lessons #1-#5.

Lecture Tapes: Listen to tape lectures 1-5.
It is recommended that one tape be studied per week; however, students may pace themselves and complete the tapes and assessment requirements for this period prior to the end of the 5th week of the academic term.

ASSESSMENT EXPERIENCES:

Assessment #1: Feedback Report: Write a 2-3 page feedback report describing compelling issues you have identified, behavior changes you wish to make, and your observations regarding these behavior changes, to date, and what you have gained from your learning experience. In your feedback report, discuss: 1) Your experience with your practice of the Mind Flexors, the six characteristics of creative people; 2) How you interface with others’ exhibition of creativity. This can be turned in anytime during the first five weeks of the academic term once you have finished reviewing the 5th taped lecture. DUE TO DR. BARLOW'S HEAVY TRAVEL SCHEDULE, IT IS BEST IF SENT BY EMAIL TO RECEIVE A MORE TIMELY REPLY. Send to jabarlow@tmius.com or fax to 702-939-1804.

Assessment #2: Creative Project Process: The identification of a creative project or creative focus area on which you would like to concentrate. Describe your progress made on the project or focus area, including application of techniques taught in the course, including Mind Mapping. The specifics of this assessment experience are outlined in your workbook. Please refer to the appropriate section for details.

Your initial project plans may be turned in anytime after you have finished reviewing the 5th taped lecture. Due to the individual nature of each project, it is recommended, not required, that you complete this portion of your project by the end of the 4th week of the course to keep on track with the requirements of the course. DUE TO DR. BARLOW'S HEAVY TRAVEL SCHEDULE, BEST IF SENT BY EMAIL TO RECEIVE A MORE TIMELY REPLY. Send to jabarlow@tmius.com or fax to 702-939-1804. Your feedback report and your ideas for your creative project or focus area are to be sent or postmarked on or before, April 27, 2007.

Course Outline - Weeks 6 through 10

Lesson Objectives: By the end of the tenth week, students develop written reports demonstrating the ability:

5. To rank order their priorities according to the Important/Urgent Chart, and learn to use these concepts on an ongoing basis.

6. To define their Key Areas and write result statements and tasks for each of these.

7. To identify the performance conditions that most affect them and strategize ways to create these performance conditions in their own lives.

Lecture Tapes: Listen to tape lectures 6-10. It is recommended that one tape be studied
                             per week; however, students can individually pace themselves.

ASSESSMENT EXPERIENCES:

Assessment #3: Write one 2-3 page feedback report describing compelling issues you have identified, additional behavior changes you wish to make, and your observations regarding these behavior changes, to date, as well as what you have gained from your learning experience. This assessment may be turned in anytime during the academic term once you have finished reviewing the 10th taped lecture. Papers are to demonstrate your ability to identify your own organizational behavioral patterns, and to identify the time management techniques identified in your workbook that you are and will use. Include a discussion of the concept of overview and how this concept applies strategically in your life.

Assessment #4: Write the concluding results of your creative project or the creative area that you have chosen for your focus. In your report, include the identification of Key Areas, complete with written Results Statements and tasks for each Key Area. Include the identification of action items you plan to undertake. The specifics of this assessment experience are outlined in your workbook. Please refer to the appropriate section for details.

Your final written results on your creative project can be turned in anytime before the end of the tenth week of the academic term once the student has finished reviewing all ten taped lectures and completed all assessment requirements. All final assessment experiences, however, must be sent or postmarked on or before June 4, 2007. DUE TO DR. BARLOW'S HEAVY TRAVEL SCHEDULE, BEST IF SENT BY EMAIL: jabarlow@tmius.com or fax to 702-939-1804.

Guidelines for Success in this Course

If the student reads the material, listens to the tapes, and completes the written assignments, he/she will be successful in this course. On a conceptual level, if the student applies the materials to their own experience and demonstrates insights as to their own creative process and personal organization he/she will be successful.