Structured Brainstorming Exercise

How do you go from a jumbled pile of thoughts in your head to a structured and precisely scoped project idea or research question?

• Brainstorming is a great way to work creatively while organically building structure around your idea in the process.

How do you work to build group consensus around an idea or approach while avoiding confrontation and arguments?

• Structured brainstorming is a great way to give everyone a chance to share their ideas and incorporate everyone's contributions towards the overall goal.

This exercise walks a group through the process of holding a structured brainstorm, and includes 19 pages of material.

What is included?

1. The Steps to hold a structured brainstorm:
   1. Go over the rules together so everyone agrees to the structure
   2. Write out the subject of the brainstorm, so everyone is working from the same premise
   3. Write as many ideas as possible, each one on a separate "sticky note"
   4. Identify common themes among the ideas, and label each idea with its theme
   5. Summarize each theme with one sentence to create your final plan
2. The Rules for a structured brainstorm:
   1. Everyone's ideas are valid
   2. No idea is too small or too big
   3. Be kind and respectful to everyone
   4. Everyone's ideas are equal
   5. Keep an open mind
3. A page to record the Subject or Question of the structured brainstorm, so everyone is on the same page.
4. "Sticky notes" so each person can brainstorm their ideas.
5. A page to summarize key points identified across all the ideas that were generated, by grouping them in up to six Themes.
6. A page to create the final plan, by turning each theme into one complete sentence.
7. A complete example of the whole process:
   1. Brainstorm subject: "How can we figure out how busy our school is?"
   2. Idea generation with sticky notes on a whiteboard.
   3. Idea Themes: 1.  Resources; 2. People; 3. Activities & Space
   4. Final Plan.

This instantly downloadable PDF includes a complete set of exercises with colorful backgrounds, and a complete set of exercises without colorful backgrounds.