101 Activities For Teaching Creativity And Problem Solving

73. Brain Splitter

Background

One management approach that has received consider-

able attention over the years is the concept of left- and

right-brain thinking. Although much of the literature

exaggerated or misunderstood how the brain hemi-

spheres actually function during thinking, the basic pro-

cesses are relatively straightforward.

The right brain is considered the seat of creative,

holistic, artistic, nonlinear thinking; the left is the center

of logical, analytical, non-artistic, linear thinking. The

right brain is emotional, disorderly, experiential, subjective, nonjudgmental, fantasy-like,

and concerned with spatial relations and metaphorical meanings. The left brain, in con-

trast, is more rational, orderly, intellectual, objective, judgmental, realistic, and concerned

with verbal relations and literal meanings.

We all have right- and left-brain hemispheres. Although there is evidence that many

people have developed certain hemispheric functions more highly than others, no nor-

mal, healthy human is truly a left- or right-brain person. The human mind relies on both

hemispheres to think and solve problems. The structure that transfers information

between the hemispheres is a bundle of nerve fibers known as the “corpus collosum.”

You may wonder what all this has to do with brainstorming ideas in groups. Well,

you can use the stereotypical aspects of brain functions to prompt ideas (VanGundy,

1983). And it can be a fun experience as well!

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, two flip charts, and masking tape for posting flip-chart
  sheets

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