Brain Storming

What can students learn from this?

Students will learn to overcome the main barriers to creativity:

Experience is the first barrier. Human nature tends to assume that the way things have always been done is the only way they can be done. Therefore, we limit our thinking to the prison of our present experience.

Fear is the second barrier-fear of saying the wrong thing, fear of being criticised, fear of looking foolish.

Snap judgement is a third barrier. Sometimes ideas get tossed out before they are given a chance.

Believing that there is one right answer is the final barrier. This drives people into analytical thinking to find the single obvious and logical answer. And they often miss the less obvious, creative answers.

How can I do this in class?

According to this method, groups are formed within the class in order to produce a large number of thoughts and ideas. As a first step, the goal is not to achieve quality but to come up with a number of ideas. Some of these ideas can be crafted into original, creative solutions to a problem, while others can spark even more ideas. This helps to get people unstuck by “jolting” them out of their normal ways of thinking. This method has been found to be suitable for producing new, original ideas and solutions.

The main reason brainstorming works so well is that the flow of ideas is not impeded by immediate evaluation. For a specified period of time – generally about twenty minutes – people are encouraged to keep the ideas coming, no matter how far-fetched they may seem. Only after the group has exhausted its supply of ideas does evaluation does begin.

To get the most out of a brainstorming session, you have to state the problem clearly and make sure it is understood before you solicit ideas, otherwise the ideas will miss the mark. Other things you might do to help stimulate the brainstorming process include:

1. Keep the group size less than ten, preferably approximately seven people. When groups get too large, some people tend to remain silent.
2. Seat people at a round table so that they can all see each other and so that no one has a more important place than the others. Round table seating also reduces adversarial relationships.
3. Don’t permit good friends to sit together. This encourages agreement that could inhibit idea flow.
4. Whenever possible, hold the session in the rooming, when people are fresh – but not when they are in a hurry to do something else.
5. Set a time limit, but don’t be too rigid about it. A good idea is good anytime. The point of time limits is that they give people a goal to work toward.
6. Write down all suggestions on a blackboard or flip chart to remind the group what has already been said and to stimulate new ideas. Make sure you have plenty of space; never erase an idea. If you use flip charts, pin the filled-up sheets around the room. It is important to post all the ideas in front of the group.
7. Encourage people to modify each other’s ideas. Thus, if someone say “advertising” and another person says “public service spots”, write down both. This reduces pride of ownership and may help refine ideas when you get to the evaluation stage.
8. Make no comments about suggestions, and be careful not to betray your feelings by showing signs of approval or disapproval.
9. Don’t ask any questions about any suggestion until all the ideas are out. You’ll have plenty of time to do that later. If you ask questions during the idea generation phase, you tend to lapse into evaluation.

If there is a pause in idea generation, restate the problem to remind the group that you are seeking all ideas, even wild ones. “Don’t censor yourself; every idea is useful” are examples of encouraging statements.

Reflection tips

During our Brainstorming there will be no discussion or evaluation of our ideas.

All ideas, no matter how crazy, are welcome. You can improve or add to others’ ideas.

The more ideas the better.When you suspend judgement or criticism, you tend to get more ideas. That’s not to say they are always good ideas. They don’t have to be good. Sometimes one person’s ridiculous idea causes another person to think of a very good idea. In fact, that is one of the objectives of Brainstorming.

POST-BRAINSTORMING

The Coordinator can assign task forces, breakout groups or individuals to categorise and evaluate ideas that have been generated and compile a final group of ideas for consideration. He evaluates pros and cons of ideas submitted for final consideration.

KILLER PHRASES

HOW TO KILL IDEAS AND CHLOROFORM CREATIVE THINKING

A swell idea but …

It won’t work.

We haven’t the time.

Too expensive.

We’ve tried that before.

Not ready for it yet.

OK in theory, but …

Too academic.

Too hard to administer.

Too much paperwork.

There are better ways than that.

It needs more study.

…….etc

SUPPORTIVE PHRASES

HOW TO SUPPORT MORE IDEAS WITHOUT EVALUATING AS GOOD OR BAD

Do you have an idea how to do that?

Any other thoughts about this?

What is particularly useful about …?

Say more about it. (draw out idea)

You have an idea. How might we do that?

Can we improve on this?

Tell me more.

What would make this more effective?

That sounds as if it might be a possible solution.

…….etc

Relevant useful material