Brainstorming as a learning strategy is a valuable one. It can play a role in inquiry or the gradual release of responsibility which is so integral to teaching. Whilst involved in brainstorming, students learn that all ideas matter and that the collaborative effort of a group results in more diverse ideas than if done otherwise. It’s also tremendously engaging and broadens perspectives. Additionally, participants can be encouraged to understand that this activity can be an important aspect of creativity and design – a stage when participants can offer forward a myriad of ideas, knowing that they will all be accepted without reservation. The nature of ‘divergent’ thinking could certainly be a subject of conversation during preparation for a brainstorming session – the type of thinking that is open, accepting and creative.
In Year 6 this week, brainstorming was used to find out about how the students viewed the Oakleigh Pillars and what they thought this should look like in their classroom for 2016. From the brainstorming, they discovered the common themes and designed their classroom expectations.
The students used Padlet as the vehicle for their brainstorming – allowing each of the groups to see what the other groups were adding. Padlet is like a virtual wall – or a piece of paper that is on the web. One of the benefits of using Padlet is that information can be posted in a variety of ways – as images, links, text or graphs – enabling teachers and students to compile, curate and peruse information that may be well suited to their learning preference.
