Brainwriting vs Brainstorming

I often give students a 1-2 minute window to write out their own thoughts before sharing with their partner, group or class. Everyone needs a few minutes of safe time to process their ideas (or at least I know I do). I am starting to realize that this writing time is critical and is needed before the collaboration brain storming phase.

Professor Leigh Thompson makes this distinction by defining brain writing as the simultaneous written generation of ideas and brain storming as the simultaneous oral generation of ideas.

Using the writing first prevents what she calls "the doom cycle," in which one or two people dominate the brain storming process, perpetuating their own ideas as others step back.

I realize that I see this with students all the time!

In contrast, writing is safe.

Thompson mentions that two things need to happen during brain writing:

1. No one can interrupt you
2. No one can block your thoughts

This video sums up the research as to why this is so important:




Here is a great article for further reading:

http://www.fastcompany.com/3033567/agendas/brainstorming-doesnt-work-try-this-technique-instead?partner=rss

I am implementing these protocols into my class.

Also, here is an app developed around these protocols: http://usecandor.com/users/sign_up