Brainstorming For Group Work – Being Parents

The brainstorming technique , also known as “brainstorming”, is a collective working tool that facilitates the process of generating new and original ideas related to a given theme. However, it is necessary to create a relaxed atmosphere that allows cooperation between all the members of the same group.

This technique can be very enriching for students, both in an academic and personal context.

The benefits of group work

Cooperative learning is defined by Johnson, Johnson and Holuec as:

However, we can say that group work is used for students to cooperate and collaborate with each other in order to achieve a common goal. The use of this didactic methodology in the classroom brings many benefits to the students:

• Promotes a sense of belonging and group cohesion.

• Stimulates a positive coexistence.

• Encourages autonomy and independence.

• Allows you to learn and put into practice certain ethical values.

• Influence the improvement of communication skills , which will be more open and fluid.

• Promotes inclusion, mutual respect and acceptance of others.

• Promotes better learning and better academic performance.

• Increase productivity.

• Stimulates social skills.

• Allows the development of greater self-esteem and a personal self-concept.

• Promotes balance and psychological and social well-being.

• Promotes the ability to evaluate and regulate learning.

• Allows you to acquire and practice decision-making skills.

For all this, it is practical to teach children, from an early age, to perform teamwork. To facilitate this process, it is possible to teach them collective techniques, such as brainstorming .

The brainstorming to make group work

Before putting into practice the brainstorming technique, there are three basic rules to keep in mind:

• All ideas are valid. We do not refuse or rule out any idea proposed by the participants in the group, even if they may seem absurd. In addition, it is totally forbidden to criticize or mock.

• We must actively listen and note all the proposals that arise, with the aim of improving them, but without entering into judgment.

• We must act quickly. To do this, we must avoid lingering in debates, arguments or explanations. It is a question of proposing as many ideas as possible on the subject.

Steps to complete the brainstorming technique

When we carry out the technique of brainstorming or brainstorming to carry out group work, we must follow the different steps:

1. We define the subject of the group work.

2. The members of the group participate by proposing the greatest number of ideas that come to their mind during a determined time for the elaboration of the work.

3. One of the group members notes all the suggestions that are cited.

4. Once the allotted time is over – or the ideas run out – all the proposals are read aloud.

5. We debate as a group to choose the best proposals and the information that may be most useful for carrying out the work.

When the brainstorming is finished , students will have a wide variety of ideas for answering the questions they need to include in the assignment. In case it is necessary, it is necessary to try to improve the selected ideas. Finally, on the document that will be used to write the collective work, it is useful to make a script with the points that will be included.