Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a process for developing creative solutions to problems.
Popularised by Alex Faickney Osborn.
A fine strategy used to generate a wide variety of creative ideas concerning a problem in a short period of time.
The main purpose is to stimulate higher-order thinking and to bring out a range of ideas.
Learners are encouraged to express exciting and racial ideas without fear of criticism and evaluation.
Under brainstorming, the mind is stimulated to think without any hesitation.
The ideas are accepted just as they are.
They are never rejected during the process of brainstorming, how inappropriate or even irrelevant they might appear to be.
The ideas are welcomed, encourage the group to generate as many alternative suggestions possible.
The suggestions are taken for comment and close scrutiny subsequently.
Everyone is allowed to comment upon, to adopt and to elaborate on the ideas suggested by others.

Characteristics: 

• Based on educational and psychological principles.
• Useful in achieving the high objectives of knowledge and expression.
• It encourages the students for contemplation and problem-solving.
• It makes use of the creative instincts of the students.
• Collective thinking and discussion help in giving valuable thoughts.
• It encourages students to think independently.
• A very creative process and encourages original natural thinking.

The main principles of brainstorming are 

• Freewheeling of ideas
• No criticism
• Quantity breeds quality.
• Hitch-hiking.

Basic rules to be followed during the brainstorming session.

• Welcome unusual ideas - wildness is good, Crazy ideas are welcomed.
• No judgement or criticism of ideas. (Evaluation only at the final stage)
• The more the ideas, the better.
• The sky is the limit.
• Combine and improve ideas.
• Keep the brainstorming process informal and relaxed.
• Record all ideas and suggestions.

MERITS:

• Very useful in selecting research problems.
• Effective for handling sensitive and controversial issues that need to be explored.
• For encouraging pupils who are quiet and hesitant to enter into discussions.
• To generate a large number of ideas as quickly as possible.
• Leads to a very vibrant and energising session.
• More reserved participants feel free to contribute.
• Gives pupils the opportunity to think through issues.
• Promotes respect for other pupils’ ideas.
• Ideas generated are owned collectively by groups of pupils.
• Encourages every pupil to express his/her views freely since responses are not judged immediately.
• It is one way of determining pupils’ knowledge before getting into a topic.
• Make participants creative and innovative. 

DEMERITS :

• Freewheeling of ideas may result in deviating from mainstream
• Time-consuming
• Very difficult to ensure 100% active participation.
• Re-organising the ideas and suggestions by the participants needs special skills and more time.