Unit Three Bridging Cultural Gaps Gracefully

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New College English Book Two
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Unit 8 Creativity
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Useful information (1)

• Creativity is a rather vague ability that usually
  implies originality and imagination. Although one
  normally associates creativeness with artists and
  poets, people of all ages can demonstrate
  creativity in a wide variety of ways.
• A child can create an imaginary village from an
  odd assortment of sticks and stones.
• A factory worker can solve a complex mechanical
  problem in an inventive fashion.
• An advertising agent can think up an inexpensive
  and humorous way to reach a new clientele.

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Useful information (2)

• As a general rule, creativity does not
  necessarily require sophisticated skills or great
  intelligence. The creative process often involves
  intuitive perception, "lateral thinking", and
  experimentation by trial and error. In other
  words, a creative person might guess at a
  possible solution, pull in comparisons from
  totally unrelated fields, and accept mistakes as
  a normal part of problem-solving. Are there
  situations or attitudes that inhibit or prevent
  creativity?
• Teachers who regard energetic and inquisitive
  children as "naughty" probably discourage
  creativity.
• A boss who feels threatened by employees
  questioning old ways and who calls suggestions a
  "nuisance" is not favoring creativity in the
  workplace.
• Parents who expect their children to draw or
  paint like great masters will not tolerate
  "messy" or "ugly" artwork.

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Useful information (3)

• Education --- Chinese and Western--- involves
  learning skills and acquiring a body of knowledge
  in many fields. This aspect of education does not
  enhance creativity which is generally considered
  to be one of the key aims of Western education.
• Certainly since the 1960s in the United States,
  Canada and Australia increasing efforts have been
  made to integrate strategies into the educational
  system that help children to learn "by doing", by
  "hands-on" class work and by special "projects".
• All of these student-centered activities are
  designed to teach children to draw conclusions
  from their own observations or from those of
  their group and especially to learn how to
  research a topic on their own.
• Science fairs and science Olympics encourage
  middle school and high school students to invent
  all kinds of things.
• Children are also expected to ask questions and
  to work independently at a very young
  age.Creative writing classes allow children to
  write short stories and novels. The quality may
  be questionable, but the aim is to give students
  total freedom to experiment.

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Useful information (4)

• An educational system that fosters creativity
  presupposes the positive value of individualism.
  Cultures that stress collectivism and group
  solidarity may not place great importance on
  individual expressions of creativity.
• Societies or institutions based on a hierarchical
  distribution of power may regard individual
  creativity as irrelevant and destabilizing.
• Strategies that encourage children to experiment
  and think for themselves are often criticized
  because they slow down the learning process and
  the acquisition of skills.
• In other words, they are considered to be
  inefficient. Certainly they do imply a tolerance
  for guess work, errors and imperfection.  

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Part One Preparation

• 1. What Is Creativity? Being creative" means
  one can think of things that others cannot.
  "Being creative" means one can solve problems in
  a simple and original way. "Being creative"
  means one can think and do things in an unusual
  way.  
• Being creative is not limited to scientists or
  artists. Actually, ordinary people also do
  creative work in their lives. It is carried on
  all the time by amateur inventors who find new
  and more convenient ways of doing everyday
  things. For example, the paper clip was invented
  by a man who kept losing his paperwork. Thanks to
  his own invention, he's now very well organized.
   

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2. Creativity and Inventions

• The typewriter replaced pens and pencils and
  enabled people to write much more quickly and
  much more neatly.
• The calculator replaced mental calculations,
  tables and the abacus. The results are more
  accurate, the problems can be done more quickly,
  and complex operations with large sums can be
  done easily.
• The lightbulb replaced candles, lamps and
  torches. Electricity can be used at any time of
  the day or night. With electric lights, people no
  longer had to depend on sunlight.
• The ballpoint pen replaced pen and ink. It is
  more convenient, easy to carry and often neater.
• The refrigerator replaced other ways of
  preserving food such as ice, salt and drying. It
  enables people to keep vegetables and other foods
  fresh for many days.

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3. What's My Line?
1) ACTRESS
2) WAITER
3) ARTIST
6) ACTOR

•  

5) BANKER
4) BUTCHER
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Part Two Listening Activities

• Listening 1
• Vocabularyproceed v. ????????? track n.
  ??????? the finish line n.???
  wander v. ?? participant n. ??????
  proficient adj.?????? original
  adj.???????????

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Tape script (1)

• In China, education is considered a race.
  Students have to begin as early as possible and
  have to proceed as quickly as possible along the
  track. The education system is considered to be
  successful when many students have reached the
  finish line as quickly as possible. In America,
  we recognize the race too, but we feel that the
  students should have a chance to wander much
  more, even if not all of them reach the finish
  line. As a result of their wandering, some of the
  participants may have more to offer by the end of
  the race.

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Tape script (2)

• The advantage of the Chinese way is that more
  students become proficient and reach the finish
  line. The disadvantage is that they may have less
  to say or to show once they get there. The
  disadvantage of the American way is that many
  students never finish the race. The advantage is
  that some who do go all the way have very
  interesting and original things to say when they
  get there. (169 words)

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Exercise 1

• Answers 1) race 2) as early as possible as
  quickly as possible 3) wander more to
  offer4)proficient 5) less to say or to show
  6)finish the race 7)have very interesting and
  original things to say
• Exercise 2 For reference only
• Yes, I agree. In China, there are so many people
  participating in the race, and it is not possible
  to allow students to follow their own paths.
  Everyone has to take the same examinations, so
  they want the best preparation possible. The size
  of the population, the limited number of
  universities, and the examination system are the
  causes of the differences between American and
  Chinese education.

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Listening 2

• Vocabularymistakenly adv. ??? creativity n.
  ?????? efficient adj. ???????? hanger n.
  ????? hook n. ?

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Tape script (1)

• Many people mistakenly think that creativity is
  the ability to think thoughts that no one else
  has ever thought. In fact, creativity is just a
  way of looking at the ordinary in a different
  way. Alex Osborn, one of the pioneers in the
  study of creativity and imagination, discovered
  that almost everyone is more creative than he
  thinks. We usually don't recognize our good ideas
  as creativity in action. For example, in a large
  mid-western city a group of thieves had invented
  a very efficient system.

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Tape script (2)

• They could go into a clothing store, take all the
  clothes away and be out of the store before the
  police arrived. Then a young man had an idea. He
  told stores to change the way they hung the
  clothes. He told them to place some hangers with
  the hook facing in and some with the hook facing
  out. The next time the police arrived, they found
  the young thieves removing the clothes one at a
  time. Everyday creativity is just looking at
  things from a new point of view. (176 words)  

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Exercise 1

• 1) mistakenly 2) thoughts 3) ordinary 4) pioneers
  5) imagination 6) recognize 7) efficient 8) hung
  9) one 10) new
• Exercise 2 1) It was simple and did not require
  any money. He made a clever observation the
  thieves were able to grab many clothes at once
  because it was easy. So he thought of something
  that made it more difficult for them. 2) Adding
  extra cameras hiring more staff hiring men to
  watch the store at night putting bars on the
  doors and windows to prevent burglaries.  

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Part Three Reading Activities

• Pre-reading Reference answers to discussion
  tasks
• 1. No. They made the decisions and I obeyed. If I
  did not obey, I would be punished. They meant
  well and wanted to teach me the right moral
  values and not to make mistakes. But sometimes, I
  think they should have let me discover things by
  myself. I think that children are very clever and
  should be encouraged to make some decisions by
  themselves.
• 2. Yes. I could talk freely with the guests of
  our family. If I had not been allowed to speak to
  them, I would have felt like a little child or an
  outsider even though I was not really young, and
  I would not have felt like part of the family.

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2. Language Point

• 1) The case for creativityencouraging
  children
• Case??????????????????????
• ??Thats not the case .Its not true.
• ???? there were five cases(five persons
  suffering from) of influenza
• ???? When will the case come before the court?
  Case book ???????????
• ?? a dressing case??? suit case book case

Language Point
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Case ?????????

• It may rain, youd better take an umbrella
  (just) in case.?????,???????,?????(?????)
• In case I forget, please remind me of my promise.
  
• In case of fire, ring the alarm bell.
• ??????,?????
• in this /that case ????/????
• in no case?? / in any case ????

Language Point
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Creativity

• n.??? ?? create v.???? creation n.????????
  creative adj.?????? Creator n.??? creature
  n.???(????)
• To be an artist involves creativity.??????????
• ??????????-???????

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2) this vital skill in children (line 2)

• vital adj. ????????????????????
• be vital to sb./sth.? ?????
• ?It is vital that???,???????????? (should
  do.)??????????important, necessary,
  essential,desirable, advisable, urgent
• It is vital that enough money (should)be
  collected to fund the project.

Language Point
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Vital

• ??Vitality n.? vitalize(se) v.???? vitally
  adv.??,? ?vitals n.??????? vital force???
• Environment is vital for a childs growth.
• ?????????????????

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3) If Dick Drew., (line 3)

• practically adv. a.) actually???b). almost
  nearly??
• ?? practical adj.???practicality n.???
  practicable adj.??? practice(se) n.??v.??
  practiced/practised adj.??? practitioner
  n.???(?????)
• You can learn practically nothing from your
  experience in that factory.
• ????????????????

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mask v. ???? n.????

• ??masked adj.(?)????
• He did all his hatred for his master under a mask
  of loyalty.
• He masked all his hatred for his master under
  loyalty.
• ?????,??????????
• ?????1925???????????????,??????????????,?????????
  ??

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4) At work, (line 5)

• At work, he developed a sticky-side substance
  strong enough to hold things together.
• sticky-side substance??(??????????)
• ?? ????,???????????????????,??????,?????????

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5) Drew perfected the tape,(line 7)

• perfect
• make sth. faultless in every way
• ?????
• eg. She needs to perfect her English before
  going abroad.

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6) It is a strategy that... (line 10)

• It is a strategy that more and more companies
  are employing and one that experts around the
  country say we ought to be following with our
  children, both at home and at school.
• ????????????
• 1) It is a strategy that more and more companies
  are employing.
• 2) Its a strategy that experts around the
  country say we ought to be following with our
  children, both at home and at school.
• ????,?????????????????,????(???)???????,?????????
  ??,????????????

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7) the feeling is that (line 13)

• the feeling is thatthey will be better able to
  function in tomorrows society.
• function??????????????????
• ?the functions of a judge?????
• the function of education ?????
• the functions of the nerves?????
  ????????????????
• ?The telephone was not functioning.?????
• Some English adverbs function as
  adjectives.???????????????
• ??????,????????????????,???????????????????

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8) Creativitys benefits (line 14)

• Creativitys benefits reach beyond music and
  art.
• reach??,??
• ????????????????????
• 9) a number of ways to approach problems (line
  15)
• approach 1)??,??,? 2)??,??
• E.g. New year is approaching.

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10)  Creativity is not (line 16)

• Creativity is not something one is just born
  with, nor is it necessarily a characteristic of
  high intelligence.
• ??nor?????????????????????????????(??????????),???
  ????,???????be????????????,???????
• Eg. Neither at the meeting nor at the previous
  one did anyone raise the question.
• She wont leave, nor will she allow him to
  continue threatening her badly.
• Not until many years later did the whole truth
  become known.
• Never have I seen such a nice movie.
• ???????????,??????????????

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11) Creativity is the matter of(line 19)

• Creativity is the matter of using the resources
  one has to produce original ideas that are good
  for something.
• original ideas ????? ?????
• ??? one has ?????????resources ???that are good
  for something ????original ideas
• ?????????????????????,???????????????

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12) With strong emphasis on...(Line 20)

• With strong emphasis on test scores and the
  development of reading, writing and mathematical
  skills, many educators sacrifice creativity for
  correct answers.
• Sacrifice v.?? n.????? sacrificial adj.??????
  sacrilege n. ???? sacrilegious adj.?????
  ??????????????
• ???????????????,????,???????,????????????????????
  ??

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13) The result is that ... (line 22)

• The result is that children can give back
  information but cant recognize ways to apply it
  to new situations.
• ?????????????????,???????????????

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14) They may know (line 23)

• They may know their multiplication tables, for
  example, but they are unable to apply them to
  story problems.
• story problems?(????)???(??200???)
• ?? ???????????,??????????????

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15)new approaches to teaching (line 26)

• approach n.?????
• eg. The enemy ran away at our approach.
• ????????,???????
• an approach to perfection????.
• ? ??????
• All the approaches to the Palace were guarded by
  soldiers.
• ????????????????
• v. ????
• eg. A boy of 18 is approaching manhood.
• 18??????????
• He is rather difficult to approach.???????????

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16)For example, instead of ...(line 28

• For example, instead of simply asking When
  Columbus discovered the New World, teachers might
  ask students to think about what would have
  happened if his trip had taken him to New York
  first instead of to the Caribbean area.
• instead of doing sth.???? WHEN?????? The New
  World ???,??? what would have happened if his
  trip had taken him to New York first instead of
  to the Caribbean area?think about?????,?????,?????
  ???????
• ????,???????????????????????,?????????????????
  ????????????????

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17) In the classroom as well as at home,
,experts say. (line 33)

• as well (as)?????
• He give me money as well as advice.
• ?????????,?????
• He give me advice, and money as well.
• ??????,??????
• We shall travel by night as well as by
  day.????????
• ??????,????????,???????????????

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18) Then it is up to (line 34)

• Then it is up to parents and teachers to work
  with the children to develop those thoughts into
  workable ideas.
• be up to be the duty or responsibility of
  sb.(????)??,??
• Eg. Its up to us to help those in need.
• ??????????
• eg. Shall we go out? Its up to you.
• Whether he took it or not was up to him.
• Whether you learn or not is entirely up to you.
• workable?????
• ???????????????????,???????????????

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19) Experts say that ...(line 37)

• Experts say that it is important to create an
  atmosphere in which there is no risk in being
  creative---a place where wild ideas are honored
  and valued, never scorned or dismissed.
• scorn v.?despise mock ?????refuse ignore
  ????? n. UC contempt????
• dismiss v. ? fire sack ????? neglect,
  disregard, ignore ??????????? release,
  free??????
• ????????????????????????,????????????????????????

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20) involve children in (line 40)

• involve in ??????????
• eg. Dont involve me in solving your problems.
• 21) When parents show a sense of humor, children
  can see creativity in its purest form.(line 47)
• ???????????,???????????????

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22) By its nature, (line 46)

• By its nature, humor crosses conventional
  boundaries and breaks patterns.
• by its nature ????????
• nature ???
• Eg. Man is engaged in a constant struggle with
  nature.

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nature ?

• typical qualities and characteristics of a
  person or an animal????
• eg. Its human nature that parents should be fond
  of their children.
• Its his nature to be generous.
• She has a very sweet nature.
• ? the main character of sth.????
• eg. What is the nature of his business.
• Motor-racing is by nature a dangerous sport.
• ???????,??????????,???????

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23) As children grow older, (line 53)

• As children grow older, ,but not automatically
  help them too much if they make the wrong
  decision.
• ??????????,????????????????????????????,???????
  ??????

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24) This is because ...(line 56)

• This is because one of the most important traits
  of creative people is a very strong motivation to
  make order out of confusion.
• ????????????????????,????????????????????????

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Translation

• 1. I think it is up to him to finish the work no
  matter how long it will take. 2. We decided to
  sacrifice a trip for a new car. 3. He tried not
  to involve his wife in the management of the
  company.4. The education of young people is
  vital to the future of our country. 5. The key
  to this problem is better planning. 6. I am very
  tired. I don' t want to pursue that question now.
  7. He won first prize for his original design.
  8. Through all his life he has made efforts to
  promote the mutual understanding between the two
  countries.

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Part Four Further Development

• 1. Case Study Possible solutions -Paint a
  picture of beautiful scenery on the walls of the
  prison. -Put windows on the other side of the
  bungalows(??)to see different scenery. -Move to
  another neighborhood. -Plant flowers, vines and
  trees around the walls.-Buy a computer and
  you'll never be bored. - Work in the prison
  watchtower(???). -Put mirrors to the right and
  left of the wall to reflect the scenery (see
  Figure 1). -Use a concave(???), a convex(???), a
  periscope(???)and steps (see Figure 2).

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2. Everyday Creativity

• With a ballpoint pen, we could use it -as a
  water gun -to hide messages in -as a lighter
  to light cigarettes -as a weapon to hurt the
  attacker's face. With a piece of chalk, we
  could use it -to absorb ink or water -to clean
  white shoes -to cover a spot on a white wall
  -to wake up a sleeping student -to carve
  something on it. With a pair of glasses, We
  could Use them -to hide our identity after we
  darken the glasses -as a mirror to look at a
  girl/boy behind us -as a mirror to see if our
  hair is neat-to look more mature while wearing
  them -to look educated while wearing them.
  With a blackboard eraser, we could use it -to
  shine our shoes -to powder our faces -as a
  weapon to dust the attacker's eyes with chalk
  powder -to paint squares on a dark wall -to
  polish furniture.

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3. Letters to Jennifer

• Sample letter 1Dear Jennifer, I don't know what
  to do. One of my friends often wants me to do
  homework for her. I want to help her because she
  is my friend, but I am spending too much time on
  her work. -Shygirl Sample letter Dear
  Shygirl, The next time she asks you, make a
  whole lot of mistakes and then she won't ask you
  any more. -Jennifer

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4. Cloze

• 1) mean 2) include 3) break 4) invent 5) strike
  6) limited 7) able 8) not 9) average 10) reason
  11) that 12) examining 13) Another 14) play 15)
  regard 16) sound 17) because 18) disapproved 19)
  satisfaction 20) but

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5. Creativity in Education

• 1) Both are equally important, and no system
  should only emphasize one. Knowledge involves
  facts and skills which are essential, but
  creativity allows you to do original things with
  your knowledge. If I had to emphasize one, I
  would choose creativity since it is more
  important than facts and figures that will be
  forgotten.

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2) -Reduce the amount of memory work.

• Memorizing things does not encourage thinking.
  If students are told to memorize, they are not
  encouraged to solve problems in an original way,
  but just to obtain or give back information.
  -Encourage students' curiosity. If students are
  curious, they will explore more and become more,
  interested. -Give homework that tests students'
  ideas and theories rather than piles of work that
  require them to repeat what their teachers do in
  class. -Stop thinking that children are stupid
  and that they must always be told what to do and
  how to do it. -Offer more classes on art and
  music. -Leave students more time so that they
  can go out and observe nature. -Let students be
  teachers from time to time. -Provide more
  chances for students to visit exhibitions and
  have discussions. -Let students talk about their
  interests and realize the importance of their
  interests.

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6. Writing

• How Can We Encourage Creativity in Students?
  Sample 1 Success has often been linked to
  creativity. However, more and more evidence
  proves that school education seems to discourage
  creativity in students. First, students should be
  allowed to free then imagination. Students also
  have rights to produce strange drawings and give
  foolish questions, for these can sometimes lead
  to creativity. Don't look down on children's
  tricks and games. Play is an important step on
  the road to the success of the greatest
  scientists and artists. According to research on
  the human brain, the two halves of the human
  brain do different kinds of work in everyday
  life. The left half manages tasks related to
  logical reasoning and language skills. The right
  half controls things such as drawing, music,
  imagination, and even dreams. Of course,
  praising good ideas and encouraging unusual
  points of view are also important ways encourage
  creative thinking. However, the real answer lies
  in encouraging them to think in picture and in
  words and also to express themselves in simple
  drawings. It might be a good way to let the right
  half of their brains do exercises. Besides,
  letting students do imaginative assignments like
  making up stories and encouraging them to
  daydream when they are free are also effective
  ways to wake up their creativity. (208 words)

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Sample 2

• First of all, I would like to let my students use
  their hands as much as possible. If the student.
  interested in machines, he can use tools to make
  car models, for example. If a student likes
  clothes, she should have the chance to sew a coat
  for herself. I would like to ask them to design
  something they haven't seen before. In brief,
  they can use their imagination and knowledge to
  do whatever they like. Of course, when they
  encounter difficulties I would help them if they
  need my help. Instead Ii telling them the answer
  right away, I would encourage them to solve the
  problem themselves. If the student manages to
  solve the problem, he will gain a lot because the
  next time he will be more willing and more
  confident to reflect and look for a solution.
  Thus the students will become more and more
  creative. At the same time, my students should
  read, think and have discussions with others as
  much I possible. This process would enable them
  to gain inspiration from other people and from
  their peers. I would encourage them to read about
  famous inventors and examples of creativity. This
  would help create a good atmosphere for creative
  thought. (196 words)