Progressive Brainstorming
This is an interactive exercise that teachers can use in the class to get the students started and involved in their collective learning in the classroom and the subject that you are teaching them about right now. Use it at the start of a new subject or at the end of the subject to make them summarise their knowledge together.
Purpose
The aim is to get the students to work together on a topic and, in doing so, to strengthen the sense of togetherness within the class.
Use and Learning Outcomes
- 1. Promotes psychological safety, as ideas are developed step by step and often in small, safe groups
- 2. Shows young people that good ideas are often a joint effort and that every contribution is valuable.
- 3. Stimulates cognitive flexibility and concentration, as pupils suddenly have to build on and recombine their classmates’ ideas.
- 4. Enhances self-efficacy, as each group can see clearly how their input has contributed to a growing, successful overall result, which boosts self-confidence.
- 5. Creates a structured, stress-free framework to the clear, playful process.
Wellbeing References
Details & Preparation
Room Requirements
- A room where you can have 5 work stations for the students
- A whiteboard to write instructions on
- Big papers (flip chart paper, at least A3 format)
- Whiteboard pencils or felt-tip pen, one color/group
Time for preparation
20 minutes
Preparation
1. Write instructions on the whiteboard:
- Which pages in the book or from internet should be used in the exercise
- How much time will they work before moving on to the next paper
- How will they move in the classroom (you can paint arrows at the whiteboard to show them)
2. Prepare 5 stations by putting two benches/tables together as one and place the chairs around them.
3. Put one Flip chart paper at each table station and one pen. (Different color of the pen at every station)
4. Write the question on the paper before they start, to make it clear for the students what to answer
5. Divide the students into groups before the lesson starts.
Materials
- The students may need their books in the subject, or other sources that you allow
- One pen/group
- A timer or a clock
Sequence of Steps
The Forming of the Groups
5 minutesMake sure the group knows that they will leave the paper on the tables but bring the pen with them as they change stations after 5 - 10 min.
Brainstorming 1
5 - 10 minutesThey write down keywords, or short sentences, and insights they have discussed on the paper.
Brainstorming 2
5 minutesBrainstorming 3 - 5
15 minutes in totalGroup Reflection
5 minutesClassroom Discussions and Summary
15 minutesNow class discussions are on and the teacher can summarise learning outcomes on the whiteboard while the discussions are ongoing.
Reflection & Tips
Reflection
- Start next lesson with the class by talking about those (the students can write the same in their writing books)
- Keep the flip chart papers from the groups and maybe put them on the classroom wall for a while.
Tips for Implementation
- Make sure that the students help each other in the groups. One writes and the others can read and find new information/more facts that can be added to the paper.
- Don’t let them stay too long at each station. It can be better to shorten the time for each station if you can see that the discussions are fading.
- Use this in any subject of the school. It can work everywhere and can also be used just to let the students have fun (writing about different comic heroes at each station or world religions).
