Brainstorming as an
Effective Technique in the

ELT classroom

{{27 May 2023}}

Say 'Yes' to Brainstorming

It promotes creative thinking, idea generation, and collaboration among students.

When brainstorming is not properly executed or lacks structure, it can easily devolve into a casual discussion or directionless activity.
Here are some factors that can cause brainstorming to lose its effectiveness:

Lack of Clear Guidelines: Without clear guidelines or objectives, participants may engage in aimless conversations without a specific focus or purpose.

Dominating Voices: When certain individuals dominate the discussion, others may feel discouraged or hesitant to contribute their ideas, resulting in an unequal participation and limited creativity.

Fear of Judgment: If participants fear criticism or judgment from others, they may withhold their ideas or only share safe and conventional suggestions, hindering the generation of innovative and diverse solutions.

Lack of Time Management: Inadequate time management can lead to prolonged discussions on irrelevant topics, leaving little time for meaningful idea generation and evaluation.

Limited Structure or Tools: Without employing techniques such as mind mapping, visual aids, or guiding prompts, brainstorming sessions can lack structure and fail to stimulate creativity and focused thinking.

To ensure its effectiveness and avoid it becoming merely a casual discussion, it's important to follow a structured process and keep certain dos and don'ts in mind.

Process of Brainstorming:

Define the Objective: Clearly communicate the goal or topic of the brainstorming session to students.
Create a Safe Environment: Foster an inclusive and non-judgmental atmosphere where all ideas are welcomed and valued.
Set Time Limit: Allocate a specific time for brainstorming to maintain focus and productivity.
Generate Ideas: Encourage students to freely share their ideas without criticism or evaluation.
Record Ideas: Document all suggestions, either on a white/ black board, chart paper, or through digital tools, for everyone to see.
Discuss and Analyse: Facilitate a discussion to examine and refine the ideas generated.
Evaluate and Select: Assess the feasibility and relevance of each idea and collectively decide on the most suitable ones.
Provide Closure: Summarise the key ideas and outcomes of the brainstorming session.

DOs of BRAINSTORMING

DON'Ts of BRAINSTORMING

Active Participation:

Ensure that every student actively contributes ideas during the session.

Divergent Thinking:

Motivate students to think outside the box and explore unconventional ideas.

Quantity over Quality:

Urge students to generate as many ideas as possible without judgment.

Collaboration:

Applaud students when they build upon each other's ideas and engage in respectful discussions.

Risk-Taking:

Create an environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and sharing their unique perspectives.

Criticism:

Discourage any form of criticism or negative feedback during the brainstorming process.

Limiting Ideas:

Encourage students to think broadly and not restrict themselves to conventional or "right" answers.

Dominance:

Ensure that no single student or group dominates the discussion, and everyone gets an opportunity to contribute.

Time Constraints:

Allow sufficient time for brainstorming to facilitate thorough idea generation and exploration.

Rushing the Evaluation:

Allocate a separate time for evaluating and refining ideas, rather than doing it simultaneously with the generation phase.

Dear Teachers of English (IX-XII), CBSE
Wish to join the whatsapp group nurtured by motivated English teachers from across the country (IX-X & XI-XII CBSE) , who continue to remain learners ?
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You're welcome to connect with me at 9810998209 / www.ruchisengar.ourabode@gmail.com. I 'll call and we'll have a talk.

{{RUCHI SENGAR}}
CBSE ELT Subject Expert, Master Trainer, Author and Item writer

Brainstorming as an Effective Technique in the

ELT classroom

Say 'Yes' to Brainstorming

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