Brainstorming as Teaching Strategy : B.Ed. Notes

Brainstorming is the name given to a situation when a group of pupil meets to generate new ideas around a specific area of interest. Brainstorming is a tool for creating new ideas in students. It is also used as a pedagogical strategy for stimulating interest in learning.

The meaning of Brainstorming

In context to teaching, brainstorming is a strategy or tool of teaching used by the teacher in which maximum or all the students participate by responding or presenting views on one topic. This technique encourages new ideas among students which would never have happened under normal circumstances.

Brainstorming can be explained in following ways:-

• It is a process to designed to obtain the maximum number of ideas relating to a specific area of interest.
• It is a technique where a group of pupil put social inhabitations and rules aside with the aim of generating new ideas and solutions.
• It is a technique that maximizes the ability to generate new ideas.

Brainstorming can either be traditional or advanced.

(a) Traditional brainstorming

Traditionally for Brainstorming pupil gather in a room and forward their ideas as they occur to them. They are told to lose their inhabitations and no ideas shall be judged. Here pupil should build on ideas called out by other people.

(b) Advanced Brainstorming

• It is an extension of the traditional brainstorming and makes the whole process easier and effective. Advance brainstorming uses new process and new techniques to reduce inhabitations, for example, creative and lateral thinking technique.
• Brain storming software
• New material for simulation and recording ideas.

Brainstorming in education

In the field of education brainstorming is a large or small group of activities that encourage the student to focus on a topic and contribute to the free flow of ideas. In this process

• Teacher begins the session by posing a question, problem or by introducing a topic.
• The student then expresses possible answers, relevant words, and ideas.
• The contribution is accepted without criticism or judgment and is then summarized on a white board by the teacher.
• These ideas are examined, usually in an open class discussion format.

Purpose of Brainstorming

• To focus student attention on a particular topic.
• To generate particular ideas.
• To teach acceptance and respect for individual differences.
• To encourage the learner to take a risk in sharing their ideas and opinions.
• To demonstrate to the student that their knowledge and abilities are valued and accepted.
• To provide an opportunity for students to share ideas and expand their knowledge by building on each other’s

Characteristic of Brainstorming

• It is an intellectual activity.
• Maximum or all students can participate.
• Each student gives their personal view/ideas.
• Each idea is neither right nor wrong.
• It involves divergent thinking.

Brainstorming as teaching strategy

• First, a small group of students is formed. They are asked to sit in a group and are provided with a particular issue or topic.
• Teacher, as the group leader, then ask group members to think about the problem and give their ideas. They are advised to find as many solutions to the problem as they can find. They are instructed not to criticize others ideas but they are free to make attentions to others ideas. Students are encouraged to put forward suggestions without hesitation even if they seem to come up with unusual and unorthodox ideas.
• Students ideas are to be listened and accepted patiently, without passing any judgment or comment of any sort until the session is over.

Advantages

• It stimulated and provides varied instructional approach.
• Highly motivating.
• Increase task focus.
• Promotes spontaneity and creativity.
• Efficient and procedure.
• Involves participants in ownership of ideas.
• Encourages creativity.