Body Island or body outline

Idea generation - Ideas exchange & mind mapping


The idea exchange by Robert Kelly (2016) Creative development transforming education through design thinking innovation and invention

The idea exchange is set up in a way that may resemble speed dating. The group is divided in half and sees it in two rows facing our facing chairs. In this setup, each learner faces and other group members to create a discussion pair for idea generation. If you have 22 students you would have two roles of 11 shares facing each other. Each pair gets five minutes to discuss and exchange ideas before moving to the seat to their right to begin discussion with a new partner to grow even more ideas. The goal of the idea exchange is for each participant to grow the largest number of ideas possible to successive, rotating, 1 to 1 discussions with everyone in the group. 

When the idea exchange begins, the rule of plusing applies. No one is allowed to criticize anyone else's ideas. The only thing group members are permission to do during the idea exchange is to add to another members idea by bracketing or suggesting a completely new idea to complement a members suggestion cheerleading and hitchhiking are not considered plusing. Each member in the idea exchange must be able to make offers and accept offers. It is important before beginning the idea exchange that each participant generate their own personal list or preliminary ideas to bring to the idea exchange dynamic otherwise they will have no offers to give and the verbally dominant in the conversation will take over any discussion. Ideas are the currency of this exchange participants need currency to begin participation.

The idea exchange can be used frequently throughout the duration of the line challenge on various stages of divergence and convergence to provide fuel and feedback as prototypes evolved becomingly refined. The frequent use of the idea exchange as a strategy for divergent thinking and idea generation allows everyone in the classroom to know whatever what else is doing. Everybody can have a constant source of new ideas for everyone else as a research unfold and ideas are uncovered that may be relevant to someone's creative exploration. The idea exchange can also fuel independent projects. In this context, independent work is highly collaborative. Wants students become familiar with the idea exchange format, it becomes second nature in the daily regime and a cashless for developing a truly collaborative classroom culture.

Other methods:

Brainstorming techniques: Use structured brainstorming techniques to generate a wide range of ideas. Some popular methods include:

a. Mind Mapping: Create a visual representation of ideas by connecting related concepts, themes, and keywords.

b. Round-Robin: Allow each participant to share one idea in a round-robin fashion, giving everyone an equal chance to contribute.

c. SCAMPER: Use this technique to prompt creative thinking by asking questions related to each element of SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse).

d. Random Word Association: Provide a random word and ask participants to generate ideas or connections based on that word.

e. Rolestorming: Encourage participants to adopt different roles or perspectives and generate ideas from those viewpoints.

Value of Mind Mapping for Creative Processes:

  1. Visualization: Mind mapping allows you to visually organize and represent information. When exploring paint types, characteristics, and activities, a mind map provides a clear visual representation of the relationships between different elements.

  2. Creativity Unleashed: Mind maps encourage nonlinear thinking, which is crucial in creative processes. You can brainstorm and explore various ideas, connections, and possibilities related to paint types and activities freely.

  3. Organized Information: Mind maps help structure information in a hierarchical and interconnected way. This organization aids in better understanding the relationships between different paint types, their characteristics, and potential activities.

  4. Flexibility and Adaptability: Mind maps are flexible and can be easily modified. As you explore different paint types or activities, you can add, remove, or rearrange information effortlessly, adapting to the evolving creative process.

  5. Inspiration and Association: Mind mapping facilitates the association of ideas. When exploring paint types, characteristics, and activities, one idea may lead to another, sparking inspiration and fostering a more comprehensive understanding of the creative landscape.

How to Use Mind Mapping for Exploring Paint Types, Characteristics, and Activities:

  1. Start with a Central Idea:

    • Place the central idea, such as "Paint Exploration," at the centre of the mind map.

  2. Branch Out to Categories:

    • Create main branches for different categories, e.g., "Types of Paint," "Characteristics," and "Activities."

  3. Sub-Branches for Each Category:

    • Under "Types of Paint," create sub-branches for specific types like acrylic, oil, watercolor, etc.
    • Under "Characteristics," list key attributes like drying time, texture, and opacity.
    • Under "Activities," explore branches for painting techniques, styles, or projects.

  4. Details and Descriptions:

    • Add details to each sub-branch, describing the unique features, qualities, or methods related to each paint type, characteristic, or activity.

  5. Use Keywords and Visuals:

    • Incorporate keywords, phrases, and visuals to enhance understanding and make the mind map visually engaging.

  6. Make Connections:

    • Use lines or connectors to illustrate connections between different elements. For example, connect a specific paint type to activities that work well with it.

  7. Review and Refine:

    • Periodically review and refine the mind map as your exploration progresses. Add new insights, remove redundancies, and adjust the structure as needed.

  8. Inspiration Section:

    • Consider adding a section for spontaneous ideas or inspirational elements that may arise during the exploration.

  9. Colour Coding:

    • Optionally, use color coding to distinguish between different categories or emphasize important points.