101 Activities For Teaching Creativity And Problem Solving

Combinations 137

27. Mad Scientist

Background

This technique, developed by Doug Hall (1994), is similar to Circle of Opportunity [23].

Instead of using a circle, however, Mad Scientist uses Green Die and Red Die lists of prob-

lem attributes. Attribute lists for each die are numbered 1 through 6.

The attributes for Mad Scientist differ from those used for Circle of Opportunity in

two ways: (1) Mad Scientist categories are more general and (2) some of the categories

may be completely unrelated to the problem. The procedure for combining attributes also

is different: Circle of Opportunity combines two different attributes from the circle,

whereas Mad Scientist combines two different lists of attributes.

Objectives

• To help participants generate as many creative ideas as possible


• To help participants learn how to use the activities to generate ideas

Participants

Small groups of four to seven people each

Materials, Supplies, and Equipment

• For each group: markers, one green and one red die (or any two dice of different col-
  ors), two flip charts, and masking tape for posting flip-chart sheets


• For each participant: one sheet each of three different colors of sticking dots
  (^1 ⁄ 2 ” diameter) and one pad of 4 x 6 Post-it®Notes.

Handout

• Mad Scientist Handout

Time

45 minutes

Related Activities

• Circle of Opportunity [23]

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