101 Activities For Teaching Creativity And Problem Solving

Related Activities

• Blender [58]


• Brain Splitter [73]

Procedure

1. Arrange small tables capable of seating four to seven people so that pairs of tables
   are placed close enough for members from both tables to hear each other.


2. Divide the large group into sets of two small groups each of four to seven people.
   For example, if there are twenty people, you would divide them into four groups
   of five people each. Groups 1 and 2 are one set and Groups 3 and 4 are another.
   (You do not have to have an equal number of people in each group, however.)


3. Ask for one volunteer from each set (not each group) to assume the role of refer-
   ee/recorder. In the example in Step 2, there now would be two sets of groups with
   two, five-person groups in each set. Label the first set, Set A and the second, Set B.


4. Direct one group of each set to start by suggesting an idea that is silly or remote
   from the problem.


5. Give the second group of each set 2 minutes to develop a practical solution from
   this idea.


6. Tell the referee/recorder for each set to write down the idea on a flip chart and
   award the second group 1 point if he or she judges the idea to be practical; if the
   referee/recorder determines the group was unsuccessful, he or she gives the first
   group the point.


7. After 30 minutes, ask the referee/recorder to declare the group in each set with
   the most points the winner.


8. Tell them to write down all ideas generated on Post-it®Notes (one idea per note)
   and place them on flip charts for evaluation.

Debrief/Discussion

There are at least four unique aspects of this activity: (1) having one group suggest

impractical ideas; (2) using these ideas as stimuli for more practical ideas; (3) having two

groups interact with each other; and (4) awarding points based on an idea’s practicality.

All of these can make for an engaging and productive group experience. If time is avail-

able after generating ideas, you might ask the participants to discuss what worked well

and what did not and to suggest ways to improve on the exercise. One approach, for

instance, would be to ask participants to share written ideas on paper airplanes thrown at

the other group.

Also consider having participants debrief using the following questions:

• What was most helpful about this exercise?


• What was most challenging?


• What can we apply?

Brainstorming with Unrelated Stimuli 307

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