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Skills Icon: Listening
Skills Icon: Speaking
Skills Icon: Problem Solving
Skills Icon: Creativity
Skills Icon: Adapting
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Creative Problem Solving

Creativity

Receiving, retaining and processing information
Transmitting information or ideas
Finding solutions to challenges
Using imagination and generating new ideas
Overcoming challenges and setbacks to achieve goals
Setting goals and designing routes to achieve them
Supporting, encouraging and motivating others to achieve a shared goal
Working cooperatively with others to achieve a shared goal
Step
5
:

Suggesting improvements

I create ideas to make something better

Core ideas

A

What it means to suggest improvements 

Suggesting improvements means coming up with ideas to make something better. This could be improving an object, a process, or an experience. The goal is to make it more useful, enjoyable, or effective.

When suggesting improvements, two key things to think about are:

  • Purpose: What is the goal of the thing you want to improve? Does it do what it is meant to do?
  • User experience: How easy, enjoyable, or helpful is it for the person using it?

For example, if someone designs a game, they might suggest making the rules clearer so that players understand how to play. Or if a person creates a sign, they might suggest using bigger letters so that it is easier to read.

Suggesting improvements is an important creative skill because it helps turn good ideas into great ones.

B

Why and when it is helpful to suggest improvements 

Coming up with ways to improve things can be useful in many situations, such as:

  • Fixing problems: If something is not working well, improvements can make it better.
  • Making things easier to use: Small changes can help people understand or use something more easily.
  • Creating new ideas: Thinking about improvements can lead to completely new and creative solutions.
  • Keeping things fresh: Even things that work well can sometimes be made better.
  • Helping others: Improvements can make life easier or more enjoyable for other people.

It is helpful to suggest improvements when something is confusing, difficult to use, or could be more effective. The best time to suggest changes is after testing or using something and noticing what could be better.

C

How to create ideas to improve something 

Here are some ways to come up with ideas for improvements:

  • Observe carefully: Pay attention to how something works and how people interact with it. What seems difficult or unclear?
  • Ask questions: Think about what could be changed. For example:
    • What is the purpose, and is it being met?
    • What could make this easier to use?
    • How could this be more enjoyable or effective?
  • Think from different perspectives: Imagine how different people might experience it. What might be difficult for someone who is new to it? Try to think beyond the most obvious user group to you to think inclusively about a wide range of users. 
  • Try small changes first: Even small improvements, like changing the size, shape, or colour of something, can make a big difference.
  • Get feedback: Asking others for their thoughts can help bring new ideas.
  • Experiment and test: Trying out different versions can show what works best.

By using these methods, people can improve their creativity and find better ways to make things work.

Assessment

Reflective questions for individuals can include:

  • What does it mean to suggest improvements for something? 
  • Why and when is it helpful to suggest improvements?
  • How can you generate ideas that will be real improvements? 
  • When have you shown you can create ideas to improve something? 

Observation cues for trainers can include:

  • Are individuals able to identify the purpose of a variety of products or programmes?
  • Are individuals able to analyse the user experience? 
  • Are individuals able to create a range of feasible ideas that would genuinely improve something and explain why? 

Evidence can include individuals’ self-reflections, evidence of individuals creating a range of feasible improvements to something based on thoughtful analysis, and observations.

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