|
Have you ever wondered what goes on in the brain during such a process; or why engaging your brain in this way works?
Researchers say that brainstorming requires both divergent and convergent thinking - functions that are controlled by the frontal lobes. Generating new and varied ideas is a product of divergent thinking, while reducing a field of options down to the most salient ones or a single solution is a product of convergent thinking.
Brainstorming tends to be effective because participants are free to say what pops into their mind without fear of criticism. The process encourages novel, wild ideas, piggybacking on the ideas of others, and the generation of varied suggestions, which are ultimately pared down and decided upon after discussion and feedback. The quick, free exchange of ideas actually stimulates the left hemisphere of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) which encourages the acceptance of new emotional stimuli (as opposed to the right hemisphere of the PFC which encourages avoidance).
Tips for Optimising Brainstorming Sessions:
Suggest that all ideas are welcome (and mean it) Follow through with your promise that no thought or no-one will be subject to criticism.
Everyone has the right to 'pass'. Make it clear that if a participant wishes not to contribute at a given time, this is perfectly OK.
Write ideas on Post-It notes so that they can be manipulated and rearranged as desired. Post them on a flow-chart, easel, wall or other visible structure as brainstorming continues.
Divide participants into smaller groups to brainstorm when necessary. Smaller groups are optimal when trying to tackle an especially difficult or multi-tiered problem, or when some brainstormers are unfamiliar with the problem on the table.
Continue the initial brainstorming process until no new ideas are being generated.
Brainstorming is an especially effective instructional aid for teachers in encouraging creative problem-solving. One teacher gives her class a broad topic to research on the Web; and asks them to individually brainstorm all possible keywords. Once students come back with their findings, the group discuss how their search strategies impacted what they found.
|
|
