Developing Imagination (1950)

imagination creates new ideas from past experiences from watching hands picking could you imagine a machine which will do the work of hundreds of hands from watching a faltering pen could you imagine a reliable fountain pen containing ink for whole pages ofing birds have imagined themselves in Flight looking down on Earthbound creatures from the earliest days imagination has helped in the creation of new inventur applied to the problems of lighting imagination produ this and this and eventually modern efficient light from tbes everywhere around you you will find imagination at work imagination in music imagination in eyes imagination in books when you read books you bring life to them with your imagination you get more out of your reading when you use three types of imagination What you see what you hear and what you feel for example when you study geometry you use visual imagination to help you that Cube and cylinder are easier to work with when you can imagine what they look like visualization or forming a mental picture is one form of imagination or say you're studying Spanish auditory imagination will help you learn new words imagine the sound hear it first in sybl [Music] then put the syllables together into a complete [Music] word imagining what things sound like is an important way your imagination can help here's another way you're thinking about baseball and your imagination is giving you the feeling of the game tenseness Readiness for physical action alertness you're all set to play ball this is kinesthetic imagination and it's another way imagination can serve you if you use it wisely Imagining the feeling of a baseball game will enrich your appreciation of a baseball story and your studies well imagination properly used can help you learn your studies too now how SK your imagination let's try out your visualizing close your eyes can you imagine a picture to go with these sounds how did you do did you imagine something like this now let's try your auditory imagination can you imagine sounds to go with these pictures now compare them with these how did it sound to you here's another what does it feel like to run up a hill like this can you imagine did you feel your body reacting these types of imagination visual auditory and kinesthetic can enrich whatever you do and you can develop your skill in using them let's start to read a short story let's see how to use imagination effectively first concentrate on your purpose the thing you want to imagine it was a winry afternoon a strong wind blew the loose snow and piled it in everchanging drifts about the front porch of a small PL house this is your goal what you want to imagine winter snow wind the front porch of a plain house you begin by calling to mind things you remember seeing that might fit the description you recall a plain house you have often seen but this house has no porch and it's not winter you've often seen another house in winter with a front porch and you remember another house which you saw on a snowy day the houses you remember none of them fits the description exactly but you can create a house with your imagination using the parts that fit your purpose you use the first house you remember because it is small and plain but you'll have to imagine it with a front porch there now imagine what it looks like in winter and finally what it looks like on a windy afternoon by using visual imagination you can create a picture of the scene in your mind now what does the scene sound like you Remember The Sound of Winter Wind and you recreate that sound in your imagination now there is one thing left to imagine how does this scene feel Can You Feel The Wind Can You Feel the cold try letting your body respond easily and freely this will help build the imagined feeling now have you imagined the scene you need to appreciate the story keep the words in mind it was a winry afternoon a strong wind blew the Lo and filed it in everchanging drift about the front porch of a small plain house wait a minute the emphasis is on the front porch you have to imagine yourself a little closer to the porch that checks better with the original description let's review the steps used in creating such a scene in your imagination first on your purpose or on the new image you want to create think carefully about what you propos to imagine then recall relevant images that's the second step remember things you have seen things you have heard and things you have felt in the past that are similar to what you want to imagine then create a new image adding as much enriching detail as possible do this by picking out the parts of relevant images that fit the purpose and discarding the rest and finally check with your purpose test your new image against what you set out to imagine in the first place and make adjustments in it if necessary until you're satisfied that it fits your purpose these steps to effective imagination these are the steps to follow when you read when you write in your speaking in your problem solving in your listening develop your imaginative skills in all your activities now can you try the procedure on the next part of the story a group of children bound Homeward from school ran across the yard to the porch making snowballs laughing shouting as they ran how about that can you imagine it here is your style can you see the children in the sea can you hear them can you get the feeling of the sea how skillful is your imagination