helping students generate creative ideas jim flowers ball state university
TRANSCRIPT
Rules: (Assumption: Clear problem definition)Defer judgment.Aim for quantity and variety.Record all responses.
Typical procedure:State rulesPresent problem statement (List examples)Allow for incubationSay “Go”Record all responses.
Relay Brainstorming Each team member
must respond in order.
Responses cannot be used twice.
No helping is allowed.
Teams compete.
Topic: Things that support other things. (You must list the thing that supports
and the thing supported.)Common response: A foundation
supports a building.Uncommon response: Parents support
the PTA.
Round Robin Brainstorming Respond quickly. Respond only during
your turn. Step back when you
are asked.
Common Aspects of Brainstorming Sessions Many ideas Wide variety of ideas Limited Defer judgment (no killer phrases allowed) Quick Active Creative
Brainstorming sessions differ regarding:Size of groupTime limitsCompetitionMode of expressionNoisinessPressure
Use brainstorming:To generate possible solutions.To help generate problem statements.As a break in a class.To introduce or break the ice.Where creative responses are
appropriate.
2. Forced QuestioningProblem solvers use terms to help them
formulate original questions regarding a topic.
Sample Problem:Design a system for packaging an egg
so that it can withstand being released 20’ above the ground without breaking.
Questions for Egg DropWhat packaging shapes absorb impact?When, during the egg’s descent, should
our system act?What other technologies are designed
to minimize injury due to impact?Why are we assuming the egg is to fall?
What can you do with a piece of paper? Write notes. Draw pictures. Scribble. Work out math
problems. Draw maps.
3. Attribute ListingList all of the attributes or properties of
an object so that unintended uses appear.
Manipulative Verbs Adapt Modify Substitute Magnify Minify Rearrange Reverse Combine (Other)
(Alex Osborn)
Problem Statement ReversalState the opposite of your goal: “How can we get people to hate our
web site and leave it right away?”
5. Forced Lateral ThinkingViolates tacit assumptions (Assumption Smashing)E.g., how can our competitive robot
store more balls than its rival?Can becomeHow can our robot get one ball and
destroy the rival?
6. Thinking Assignments “Six thinking hats” (Edward deBono) White Hat Thinking: facts Red: intuitions and emotions Black: judgment and caution Yellow: logical positive; finding the good in
each option Green: creative alternatives Blue: control; metacognition
7. Forced Analogy & Metaphorical ThinkingOur company as a life preserver My family seems like candleLove is like a whetstoneThe Internet is our conscience
(Later elaborations)
8. Sketching & SketchstormingFast sketchstormingSlower, more detailed sketchingSketching while manipulating a 3D
object
9. Constructing / 3D Modeling / TinkeringAllow physical objects to stimulate
ideas.Have students generate solutions by
helping them with visualization.Help student with visualization by
having them generate solutions.
10. Thought Book / Diary / Log “Last night, in a dream, I had this great
idea for a new invention. I remembered the idea when I first awoke, but I can’t recall it now.”
Forced Connections (Hybrid Ideas)Making a connection between two
seemingly unrelated terms, concepts or objects.
Conceptual: In-line skatesPhysical: Swiss army knife
13. Morphological ChartsList different properties (shapes) as
column headings and the possible choices below; select a path through the chart.
Chair ChartMatl Color Rock HeightWood black yes tallMetal brown no regularPlastic white adjustable blue
Chair ChartMatl Color Rock HeightWood black yes tallMetal brown no regularPlastic white adjustable blue
15. Other graphic displaysStoryboardingVenn DiagramsFlowchartingLotus Blossom
Thinkpak by Michael Michalko
16. Fooling your mindPutting it on the back burner
“Unconscious Problem Solving”Walking around
Frequent disruptions may promote alternatives.
Cf “The Discontinuity Principle”
17. Research!!! Visit the library. Read. Search the Internet. Ask experts. Conduct experiments. Visit the competition. (Imitation) Read more. Assess previous attempts. Discuss what you know. Read.
18. Question the Problem and its AssumptionsKirk reprogrammed the computer.Peaches will not grow everywhere. “Maybe it’s not a (blank) problem at all;
maybe it’s really a (blank) problem, instead.”
Promoting critical thoughtPay them to:
Find a mistake Add to a list
Double their credit if they: Find a mistake on a test Post a correction of a web site
Make mistakes on purpose
Other Ideation Techniques2. Forced Questioning
Question Dice & Question Wheels3. Attribute Listing4. Manipulative Verbs5. Forced Lateral Thinking6. Thinking Assignments7. Forced Analogy & Metaphorical
More Ideation Techniques8. Sketching & Sketchstorming9. Constructing / 3D Modeling /
Tinkering10. Thought Book / Diary / Log11. Stream of Consciousness12. Association
Forced Connections
More Ideation Techniques13. Morphological Charts14. Mind Mapping15. Other graphic displays16. Fooling your mind17. Research18. Question the Problem and its
Assumptions