Aim:

• To enable brainstorming and idea generation.

Resources:

• Papers
• Pencils/pens/markers

Basic Structure:

• Present a broad question or problem that is likely to result in lots of different ideas or opinion.
• Have the participants generate responses by writing ideas on sticky notes (one idea per note) and placing them in no particular arrangement on a wall or whiteboard.
• Once lots of ideas have been generated, have the participants begin grouping them into similar categories.
• Label the categories and discuss why the ideas fit within them, how the categories relate to one another, and so on.

Variations:

1. Have the participants do much of this exercise—recording their ideas and arranging them into categories—without talking at first.
2. Participants are asked to re-combine the ideas into new, different categories after the first round of organization occurs.

Adapted from: www.cultofpedagogy.com/speaking-listening-techniques/