im critically thinking creatively: December 2009

after we do the focus mind map, we are now have to do the 800 words essay. and here is the outcome;

Work Hard, Play Harder… Creatively

As we speak about creativity, most of us tend to think outside the box, which is unique and different from anything that usual and common. What is creativity in term of real definition by the way? It is depends on individual itself to translate it. As taken from theories of creativity from Kai Hakkarainen University of Helsinki, Dept. of Psychology, creativity is assumed to bring something into being or form out of nothing. In the context of creativity in Multimedia University, we are required to choose any idea about MMU that we can do research and elaborate in term of mind mapping that is rare and different from any other universities. The different is that focus on creative way how the uniqueness has been applied within MMU by the students, the staff and even the organization itself. The first thing that should do is do the logical mind map on MMU that we can think that is creative such as the facilities, the café, and many more. There are many types of creativity that can use as we broader the mid map to get the ideas of what we are going to do. After all the things have listed down, we have to choose what the most that we can elaborate more on the creativity. This is where the focus mind map takes turn. From what have been observed and a long time brainstorming session, there are few of branch of ideas that come up on the ideas that have been taken. These are what we are going to do as in the context of creativity in MMU; the leisure time of MMU students, the online system and the assignment in the MMU. Each of that has their own sub-ideas on the focus mind map.

Working hard is tough, no doubt about that. In a student's case, assignments and projects are a major headache, especially when the due date was given in a short period of time. Making sure the task is completed by the date given, like what I'm doing right now, is tougher. Why is it tougher? It is because students have to come up with some sort of creative ways to make sure the assignments and projects are completed in time. The problem is, ideas do not emerge accidentally, and it may arise as a sudden in sight that is, however, preceded with a relative long period of working with a problem (Reichenbach, 1958) .That is when multi tasking comes in handy. While doing assignments, students normally will Google to search for more information regarding the given topic, not to mention playing games to release stress, listening to music and watch videos. Some eat to stay sane. Ideas can be created without us realizing it. For example, while updating Facebook or Twitter-ing your way to stardom. Multitasking generates your mind to create more ideas, be it silly or creative; it will still create a spark of interest within the individual. That is when inspiration comes into the picture.

What is inspiration and how does it help in doing assignments? Inspiration are best describe as last minute panic, where ideas kept on pouring in nonstop when we do the assignments or projects in the last minute. Students are hunger for knowledge, always searching for new things to explore or do. Creativity is a matter of mapping and exploring structured conceptual spaces that have various dimensions, limits, pathways, and levels (Boden).Students are inspired by old ideas and most of them will modify or upgrade the ideas into a modern view concept that is more usable. A dark experience, that err moment can be turn into a masterpiece if you have the right imagination. Inspiration always happens when we observe and think about things instead of talking or brag about it. Nature, arguments, your future and your love ones, just us to list down a few. All of these will create some ideas that contribute to good assignments. Inspiration can also arise by doing a group discussion and socializing. Exchanging ideas and sharing thoughts adds certain general information into your existing knowledge. In short, life itself is a source of inspiration where good, bad and everything in between are combined.

The Students Information Center is something like Facebook , you can create your profile , for example , named Adilla , Adilla can upload the photo on first page of the SIC , create Adilla’s information ( name , degree , faculty , citizenship , e-mail ... ) . About the achievement , if Adilla’s CGPA is above 2 , there is a smiling face will be appeared on the page , on the contrary , the crying face apeared when CGPA is below 2 points . Adilla also can check her activities, called the Online-SAPS; the system will show the society and club’s logo that she took part in. There are current reports (assessment, announcement, attendance, coursework) be showed with flash and animation, be sure funny and interesting.

The Bulletin Board is something like Blog , Adilla can create her own blog , record the things that are happening now and write down the impressions of hers . The first page of The Bulletin Board is a big wall, everyone can write and draw on the wall, like doodle. For example , if Adilla need a nice hat someday , well she can draw a hat on the wall and write down her contact , if someone find this post , he/she will call Adilla , tell her somebody keep the beautiful hat and ask her need it or not . Besides, she can add her friends’ blogs that make sure Adilla should know what happening with her friends. It also can show the today’s bulletins in two campuses (Cyberjaya MMU and Melaka MMU).

The Multimedia Learning System (MMLS), what the system students use every day. All students in MMU can download or upload the notes from MMLS, it is easy and fast system for students to study. Imagine the MMLS is something like bookstore, the notes like books on the bookshelf, if Adilla wants to download the notes, she just types the title of the notes on SEARCH, one second later, the notes will be showed on the screen, and then enter the DOWNLOAD. The combining work with relaxation is good for studying, so there are games for fun and relaxes on the MMLS, when you are tired to study, you can play the games. The students also can discuss and chat online, discuss how to learn the subject and how to do assignment each other.

Whilst in the pursuit of knowledge and information while in university, students also need to let off steam once in a while. As the old saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. MMU has a unique student environment that consists of local and international students, which gives it a truly worldwide flavor. The mixed culture of MMU’s student population brings with it different challenges and various creative approaches can be taken to deal with this situation. By using lateral thinking, a method developed by Edward de Bono from his book, New Think: The Use of Lateral Thinking, published in 1967, students overcome these problems by using indirect and methods which are creative and out of the box. To understand each other and overcome the problem of different languages for example, students mainly decide on a common lingua franca, English. English being the main medium of instruction all over the world is a natural choice for the chosen language of communication. Using a common language is creative in the sense that it creates a sense of bonding between different cultures, beliefs and understanding.

Actions speak louder than words, as the popular saying goes. By using actions rather than words, an agreement can be achieved. For example, simple sign language or gestures might mean more than verbally saying it and can reach a wider spectrum of audience that can reach across many different cultures. To achieve unity, doing things with wholeness in mind is essential. By tolerating differences and breaking down barriers, thinking and doing things as one can strengthen a group.

Creativity is about doing something different that has value, according to Edward de Bono. Thus, in MMU we have people trying out new things and various styles of achieving things. Because there is a rich culture of societies from all over the world, there is a sense of creativity when observing things around you. For instance, there is the CCIP or Cross Cultural Integration Program where students from different nationalities perform dances and songs from other cultures to improve understanding of each other. For example, you have Malaysians performing dances originating from the African nation of Libya. This way the students can develop a better appreciation of other people’s cultures as well as forging better ties.

There are also many types of food available here in MMU. In and off campus, they are shops catering to a variety of tastes; Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Arab just to name a few. This mixture of different cultures brings out the best of MMU students especially Malaysians that are tolerating differences. We go a step further by having the students making and selling cuisines which are alien to them and sharing them with the whole campus. For example, for the Cyberpreneurship program, students set up stalls and sell food from other cultures like sushi, kebab and so on.

There are also a number of art events which are organized in MMU to promote the creative talents of MMU students. The Faculty of Creative Multimedia has an annual flea market which features the artworks of MMU students which then are sold to prospective buyers. As well as promoting entrepreneurship, it is promoting the creative mindset of the students and can motivate them to push the boundaries and think outside the box.

MMU is a melting pot of the old and the new, traditional and modern. In Malaysia, we have a lot celebrations and hence a lot of holidays! In what way are these huge numbers of celebrations creative? By dressing up in other peoples national costumes and going to open houses, a common understanding can be achieved. Innovation can also come into place. For instance, we have traditional costumes which have been upgraded to reflect the modern age, from the Baju Melayu to the Baju Kebaya to the cheongsam.

We also have traditional games which have been portrayed in digital form and can be played online. It gives the user the same realism of playing the game but on a different platform. Last but not least, through the advent of the worldwide phenomenon which is Facebook, we can now play online games that feature traditional games. This can further promote the games to a more international audience, hence preserving its value.

As a conclusion, these three elements that we discovered have their own creativity that applied among MMU students. From observation that we made, those activities are very common within student no matter what form they are. The influence is epidemic, from generation to generation and we can call it as tradition of students when it comes to assignments, online system and also leisure. Besides, those three elements are related to each other, while doing assignment, students will refer to online system as references or others. After that, to release some tension or stress while doing assignments, they probably do some leisure activities no matter from what sources, internet is the major one.