Helping Students Generate Creative Ideas

Jim Flowers

Ball State University

1. BrainstormingGood for a flood of ideasLimited by what’s in the lake

Rules: (Assumption: Clear problem definition)Defer judgment.Aim for quantity and variety.Record all responses.

OptionsPresent examples?Allow incubation time?Set a time limit?Vary the number of brainstormers?

Typical procedure:State rulesPresent problem statement (List examples)Allow for incubationSay “Go”Record all responses.

5 Brainstorming Examples IndividualWhole-groupSmall groupRelayRound robin

Individual Brainstorming (Get ready to write

your responses.)

Topic: Uses for Animal SkinCommon response: leather shoeUncommon response: to hold animals

together

Whole class brainstorming (Get ready to call out your responses.)

Topic: Types of Ships Common response:

battleship Uncommon

response: penmanship

Small Group Brainstorming (Collaborate with

your group members.)

Topic: “How can you use a barometer to help

determine the height of a building?”

Relay Brainstorming Each team member

must respond in order.

Responses cannot be used twice.

No helping is allowed.

Teams compete.

Relay Brainstorming (Who responds first?) (Get ready to respond.)

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.

Topic: “New uses for

discarded automobile tires”

5 Brainstorming Examples IndividualWhole-groupSmall groupRelayRound robin

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

Is it right to put students under pressure when we ask them to be creative?

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.

Beyond brainstorming

2. Forced QuestioningProblem solvers use terms to help them

formulate original questions regarding a topic.

Basic Question TermsWhoWhatWhereWhenWhyHow

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?

Question Dice & Question Wheels

Second Set of TermsDidWillMightWouldCouldShould

Typical 2-Dice TermsWho could…When will…What might…

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.

Paper:WhiteThin (0.004”)90-degree cornersTranslucent

4. Manipulative VerbsHelp us consider a certain change in

physical objects or concepts.

Reverse (Push/Pull)

Manipulative Verbs Adapt Modify Substitute Magnify Minify Rearrange Reverse Combine (Other)

(Alex Osborn)

Manipulative verbs:Can be applied to solutionsCan be applied to problem statements

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.”

11. Stream of Consciousness

12. AssociationStream of termsPairs of terms (Random input method)

Paired Term Association ExampleTerm Asked Response

Egg yolkBreak pedalFall leafTime delay

Forced Connections (Hybrid Ideas)Making a connection between two

seemingly unrelated terms, concepts or objects.

Conceptual: In-line skatesPhysical: Swiss army knife

Forced Connections: New Product Ideas Eagle Dog Chair Broom Sun Water Oil Poetry

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

14. Mind MappingTony Buzan

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

5 Examples of1. Brainstorming

Individual Whole-group Small group Relay Round robin

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

Helping Students Generate Creative Ideas

Jim Flowers

Ball State University