A Creative Problem Solving Tool

October 20, 2009

 

On the QT Newsletter, A Creative Problem Solving Tool
Attachment: Brainstorming

 

Did you know? IDEO is the leading design and innovation firm in the world. IDEO helped Apple create its iconic mouse, Crest design its "neat-squeeze tube", and most recently spearheaded Bank of America's "keep the change" campaign. IDEO has a unique and creative problem solving process their world-class idea mongers follow to keep them at the forefront of design. One of the problem solving tools used each day at IDEO is brainstorming. In fact, brainstorming is practically a religion at IDEO. If you want to give your students an added advantage in today's workplace, try this activity to help them develop their brainstorming prowess.

 

Try this:

*Give each student a piece of gum to chew before beginning this activity. (Optional ... but way more fun)
Divide students into groups of 3 to 5 and distribute this Brainstorming worksheet to each student.
Have students follow the instructions on the worksheet and give them about five minutes to organize and complete the assignment.

After 5 minutes stop them and ask them how they did.

How many ideas did your team generate?
On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being best, how well did your team work together?

Explain that they are going to watch two 1-minute video clips.

Video 1: How Not to Brainstorm

Review what this team did. (played it safe, too embarrassed to share, only one idea, killed stupid ideas, didn't listen, didn't take notes, gave lots of details)

Video 2: How to Brainstorm

Review what this team did. (captured all ideas, deferred judgment, built off other's ideas, made it visual, shared wild ideas, headlined, went for quantity)

Discuss advantages of brainstorming, and why it is an important tool for creative problem solving.

Why wasn't team 1 effective?
How would you feel if you were working on team 2?
Why do you need to follow rules when brainstorming?

 

Add an Experience: Encourage students to practice brainstorming in their personal lives and in the workplace. Suggest that they try out brainstorming with their families when they are looking for a weekend activity, or in the workplace to generate ideas to help solve a problem. It doesn't have to be a complicated problem -- just one that could use some new insight. Give students extra credit, or at least another piece of gum, if they will take a minute at the next class meeting and explain what they did, what happened, and how it made them feel.

 

Quik Quote: Effective brainstorming sessions aren't random and haphazard ... they follow a certain structure that's proven to elicit good ideas.

Daniel Pink, A Whole New Mind