There are two types of thinking involved in dealing with a problem or situation:
1. Convergent Thinking
2. Divergent Thinking
Convergent Thinking asks this question: “What is the correct answer?” Available information → → → Correct Answer
Divergent Thinking asks this question: “What are the possibilities?” Available information → → → Possible Answers
In your Sports History class, the question may be, “In what year did the American Basketball Association merge with the National Basketball Association.” This is a job for Convergent Thinking - What is the correct answer? In your search, you may check all of the possible sources of information; your textbook, a student friend, your parents, the encyclopedia, your computer, and find that it happened in 1976. That is the answer and the only correct answer – you are through looking.
Convergent Thinking is the major operation in achievement type tasks, e.g.,
11. Which of these players was a star in the ABA?
Michael Jordan
Julius Erving *
Larry Bird
Patrick Ewing
The correct answer and only correct answer is Julius Erving (Dr. J) - No discussions necessary or encouraged. Move on to item number 12.
However, instead you may be asked to join a discussion group on the topic:
Was it a good idea or a bad idea for the ABA to merge with the NBA?
Tell us more about who Dr. J was and what he did.
I heard Dr. J also played in the NBA. How did that happen?
And on and on we can go on this topic. This is Divergent Thinking
Now you need to gather and submit much more available information to determine whether it was a good idea, a bad idea, or there may have been some other possible arrangement. You will need to know about some of the other great players in the ABA. It will take some creative thought and digging for more information for you to come up with and evaluate the possible responses.
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