Brainstorming is an active-learning exercise that helps students become better at first steps in problem solving.

Getting Started

Try brainstorming before diving into a demonstration of how to solve a problem.

1. Set up a non-trivial problem for students to solve.
2. Pause to have students brainstorm for a minute about how to solve the problem rather than immediately start working on the solution. Students make a list of whatever ideas come to mind that are relevant—for example, definitions, concepts, assumptions, equations, approximations, or algorithms.
3. Now resume and demonstrate how to solve the problem. Call out the ideas you needed as part of your solution.

Why It’s Effective

• Beginners can get stuck and have no idea how to approach a new problem. Training them to reflect on solution techniques can help them get unstuck on this and future problems.
• The time spent recalling relevant and even irrelevant ideas causes students to practice retrieval of information.
• Highlighting the relevant ideas helps students to see how you as an expert approach thinking about a problem, thus helping them become experts themselves.

Hints

• As you solve the problem ask students to compare their list of ideas with the ideas you used. They could check off items on their list as you solve the problem, and add any they missed. Consider asking them to keep the list and use it when approaching a homework problem.
• Brainstorming has strong synergy with think-pair-share:
  • You can integrate pairing by asking students to discuss with a neighbor for a minute or two between the (individual) brainstorming phase and your solution demonstration.
  • You can integrate sharing by asking students to report out ideas from their brainstorming. You can solicit volunteers for ideas to add to a board or a Word or Google doc.
• Brainstorming also has synergy with one-minute papers. You could ask the students to write about how well their brainstorming tied to the solution.​

Online Adaptations

Brainstorming works the same way, whether you are using online or in-person instruction. In an online lecture, pause and ask students to brainstorm. Then resume with your demonstration of the solution.