Brainstorming

Make Brainstorming Part of Your Teaching Methods

Where does the idea of brainstorming come from? Brainstorming is a strategy that has its origins in the business world. In the 1960’s executives found that this free-flowing method was an effective way to generate workable ideas or solutions in a small amount of time. The ideas would then be organized and evaluated and the most effective and workable ideas would be identified and used for the organization.

The brainstorming process as it relates to the classroom is based on two ideas: 1. Most new material is related to existing knowledge. 2. Students learn most effectively and efficiently when they are actively involved with ideas, materials and peers. Learning is an active-not a passive-process!!

What do students bring into the classroom? Knowledge Personal experiences Information All these may be random, disorganized or inaccurate but they do exist.

What types of knowledge do students bring to the class?

What is brainstorming? It is a combination of a relaxed, informal approach to problem-solving and lateral thinking.lateral thinking People give their ideas and thoughts. Some of these ideas are used to form original, creative solutions to problems. Even some seemingly useless ideas can spark still more ideas.

The goal of brainstorming is: to direct people to new ways of thinking and break away from the usual way of reasoning.

Brainstorming emphasizes learning as a dynamic active process. It encourages students to become involved in the creation, gathering and organization of ideas. It helps motivate even the more passive students. The students take ownership of the material because it comes from them and is not imposed on them. Students interchange and share their ideas. It encourages teamwork.

Why use brainstorming? It helps get creative solutions to a problem. It has become part of the teaching and learning process. It can be used with your class to bring the various students’ experiences into play. Brainstorming is enjoyable.

Steps in a brainstorming activity: The teacher introduces the topic. The teacher chooses the participants to express their ideas about the topic. Each idea is recorded on the board in a graphic organizer for all to see. All ideas are accepted. It is possible to expand on a classmate’s idea. There should be a time limit and not an idea limit.

The Brainstorming Process

Brainstorming in the EFL Class In EFL classes brainstorming can be effective in a wide range of areas of instruction. Pre reading /Pre listening Teachers ask questions that are central for the comprehension of the text. Students try to give as many answers to them as possible. The questions must involve a wide variety of possible answers. This can be identified with HOTS: Prediction- generating possibilities

Before writing a story, an article, an opinion, a summary or anything else: Pre writing A topic can be fully brainstormed in an individual or group brainstorming (or a combination of both) to generate as many ideas as possible. At home students use their notes to prepare an outline and write the first draft to be edited in class.

Grammar In order for students understand how grammar works, they should explore it (use in in a meaningful way). Instead of having the teacher explaining everything. Give them a grammar topic and use in a certain context. Grammar should be taught in connection with context and meaning and not recited without understanding.

Vocabulary Use brainstorming sessions to find the meaning of difficult vocabulary using the context. Encourage students to provide their guesses and accept all of them even the wildest ones. Only later with the help of the teacher, students try to evaluate them and pick up the most appropriate definitions.

Other Brainstorming Ideas Predicting a listening or reading text. Listing communication, learning, or exam strategies. Coming up with vocabulary connected to: e.g. body words, negative words, collocations with the word “get”, or phrases used in a particular situation such as: “at the post office”. Coming up with functional language phrases.

Examples of Graphic Organizers to Use in Brainstorming Sun

Venn Diagram A Both B

Cluster Word Web

Describing Wheel

Brainstorming with the Teacher at the Board The teacher starts with a graphic organizer. The teacher introduces the topic. The teacher makes sure as many students participate as possible.

 WORK WITH A PARTNER.  CHOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING 4 POSSIBILITIES.  SHOW OR TELL HOW YOU WOULD USE BRAINSTORMING!  USE ONE OF THE GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS. Let’s do some brainstorming!

(1) What do you think this story is going to be about? BOYS IN THE KITCHEN A Family Adventure Story

Family First U N I T 3 (2) What do you think this unit is going to be about? In this unit you are going to: read, talk, listen to and write about family issues including: roles and responsibilities at home birth position of children in the family getting along with siblings managing time asking for and giving advice. participate in a debate about working mothers. organize information and present the results using a pie chart. read, listen and respond to letters articles, interviews, poems and short stories. prepare and present a project. play games including: a Vocabulary Xword Game. a Parts of Speech Game

Vocabulary: What do you think the letter is going to be about? (3) cause disagreement frustrated opinion point of view solution impulsive practice sensitivity respect reward

What kind of brainstorm activity could you do for this ad? (4) WANTED: Star Chemical is looking for a person to work in sales of multi vitamins and minerals for children and adults. No experience necessary. Must be good with people. Work from home or at our office in Petach Tikva. Call: Mr. Sam Bond at or any time

Other Classroom Brainstorming Ideas Brainstorming with a student at the board. Brainstorming in groups.

Brainstorming gives the students a feeling of satisfaction in being envolved in the learning process.