By:

Sushmita Kaldan B.Sc Nursing 4th yr 2009 batch

 Brainstorming is a great technique for generating creative ideas on a topic, usually a problem that seems hard to solve.
Generally performed in groups, it's a fun way to get lots of fresh ideas out on the table and get everyone thinking and pulling together

ORIGIN.
It was invented in 1941 by Alex Osborn, an advertising executive, who wanted to devise a method that would encourage people to spark off new ideas, without inhibitions. He defined brainstorming as "a conference technique by which a group atttempts to find a solution for a specific problem by amassing all the ideas spontaneously by its members.

According to Wikipedia "brainstorming is a group creativity technique that was designed to generate a large number of ideas for the solution of a problem." No idea is dumb or impossible, and each person's contribution is equally valuable.

 The basic principle is that the students suggest ideas which may be collected, for example, on the blackboard. During the collecting of ideas, all ideas suggested are noted down - only after the brainstorming is finished are the ideas discussed, grouped or eliminated. Brainstorming can encourage students to speak out and share ideas.

It also gives the teacher an immediate impression of how much the students already know about something.

The rules for brainstorming are designed to help people be creative and spontaneous in their thinking so that as many ideas as possible, are generated.

Why use brainstorming????

focus students' attention on a particular topic. generate a quantity of ideas. teach acceptance and respect for individual differences. encourage learners to take risks in sharing their ideas and opinions.

 demonstrate to students that their knowledge and their language abilities are valued and accepted. introduce the practice of idea collection prior to beginning tasks such as writing or solving problems. provide an opportunity for students to share ideas and expand their existing knowledge by building on each other's contributions.

Different techniques of brainstorming..

Structured brainstorming:
With this approach, every person in the team gives an idea as their turn comes up in rotation or pass until their next turn. This approach is useful in 'encouraging' the more reluctant people to participate but may create a certain amount of pressure.

Unstructured brainstorming: - Simply, team members give ideas as they come to mind. This method
may be seen as more fun and more relaxed. It risks being taken over by the more dominant team members - facilitators need to monitor this.

Individual brainstorming
-less engaging & less stressful

-more freely creative, no worry about others opinions & judgements

-some students tend to do well when they work alone

-students dont have to wait for others to stop speaking before they contribute their own ideas

Group brainstorming
Full experience & creativity of all members to solve a problem

More depth

GROUP BRAINSTORMING

Team building & creating harmony

Feeling of their contribution to the end solution

Disadvantages :
-It can be risky for individuals. - Valuable but unusual suggestions may appear irrelevant at first sight In groups, learners arent always strict in following the rules of brainstorming, and the risk of unfavorable group behaviors may arise. Instead of generating their own new ideas, students may pay more attention to other peoples ideas. Sometimes learners forget their ideas while they are waiting for their turn to speak. Sometimes people are blocked because of shyness..

Steps for brainstorming

1)Prepare the environment for the brainstorming to take place. Arrange the students desks in a manner that helps better students contributions.

2)Depending on the level of students either write the ideas that come from the session yourself or appoint one student to record them.

3)The ideas should be noted in a format that everyone can see and refer to. One may use the board or computers with data projectors.
.4)Define the problem clearly.

 5)Be sure that students understand the objective of the session is to generate as many ideas as possible.

6)After stating the problem, give students enough time to think the problem over on their own.

.7)Ask students to contribute their ideas.

8)Make sure that you give all students a fair opportunity to contribute.

9)Try to get everyone to contribute and develop ideas, including the quietest members of the class.

10)Tell students that they may develop other students ideas, or use other ideas to create new ones.

 11)Tell students that criticism and evaluation of ideas are banned at this stage because criticism is risky and may stifle creativity and cripple the whole brainstorming process. This uncritical attitude among members of the group is of paramount importance.

12)Encourage enthusiasm by providing positive feedback to all contributions without exceptions.

13)Give free vent to students creativity and imagination. Let people have fun bringing as many ideas as possible.

 Once you have finished brainstorming, go through the results and begin evaluating the responses

Some initial qualities to look for when examining the responses include:
-looking for any answers that are repeated or similar. -grouping similar concepts together. -eliminating responses that definitely do not fit.

-No idea too stupid -Watch the clock

-Let no idea go unheard

Brainstorming rules

-Encourage right mindset and have fun

-Record progress -quantity not quality

General precautions:

Make sure of focusing on the right challenge. Invite people with diverse points of view. Start with a fun icebreaker to help change mindset.

 Establish "deep listening" as a ground rule. Model it. Tell stories, play music, invite humor.Go offsite. Put a "meeting in progress" sign on the door.Collect all cell phones. Establish "no email" ground rule. Encourage individuality, risk taking, and wild ideas. Ask people to leave their titles at the door.Start with divergent thinking. End with convergent thinking.. Explain that evaluation will happen at the end of the session. Explain the follow up process.

Brainstorming
advantages
-listening exercise,creative thinking -encourages full participation

limitations
-Can be unfocussed -depends on maturity

-chances of monopoly

-spirit of cooperation -economical in terms of time

Little evaluation and constructive criticism of individual ideas takes place during the

--stimulates interest,the power of association, a spirit of competition, free use of imagination