PLTW Brainstorming

Basic brainstorming rules

1. Capture all ideas. 2. Allow all members to contribute. 3. No criticism allowed. 4. Work for quantity to allow quality ideas to surface. 5. Welcome piling on. Use others' ideas as launch pads. 6. Allow a free-for-all. 7. Encourage big thinking.

Mind Mapping

A graphical representation that can be used to generate, visualize, and organize ideas to solve a problem. The ideas are arranged in a branching fashion according to relative importance, with the major ideas branching directly from the center main idea. Other ideas that can be triggered by or related to the major ideas are then in return connected to major ideas.

Recording ideas

Be sure to capture all ideas during a brainstorming session. Designate a good notetaker who can compile all notes from the session. This might even include taking photographs of whiteboards or notebook pages.

Forced Association

Ideas created by mentally forcing the association of two seemingly unrelated items

Piling on

In a brainstorm when a members idea produces a similar idea or an enhanced idea

Brainstorming

Is a technique for solving problems, generating ideas, and stimulating creative thinking

Scammperr

Starting with a current solution, use the acronym SCAMMPERR to generate new and different ideas or approaches: S Substitute something... C Combine it with something else... A Adapt something to it... M Magnify or add to it... M Modify it... P Put it to some other use... E Eliminate something... R Rearrange it... R Reverse it...

Ideation

The process of forming ideas or concepts.

Brainstorming techniques

Ways in which you think creatatively and come up with new ideas in different ways. Example writing ideas down, or drawing pictures.

Concept Generation Dysfunctions

When you get stuck or stopped in a concept design or idea making process. Can't work out the problem. Utilizing poor design brief Assuming there is only one right answer Getting hooked on the first solution Considering ideas from only one or two team members Feeling too anxious to finish Becoming frustrated by the lack of success Getting hooked on a solution that almost works