Brainstorming – Generating Ideas

Many of us have heard the term “brainstorming” at one time or another. We all seem to think it means taking a bag of paper and pencils, and writing down everything that comes into our heads. While this is an effective method of brainstorming for a number of people, for others it’s simply a waste of time. For example, a person who is trying to get an important project done, or someone who is trying to get something through a long process, but is feeling overwhelmed, do not think that this is a good idea. They don’t realize that they are not really generating ideas but are rather taking a series of existing ideas and converting them into better ones.

Brainstorming, generating ideas, and brainstorming. These words and the methods they describe are very familiar to most, even outside of graphic design fields. As instructional designers, however, take advantage of these methods to produce more innovative ideas-and better ones. When we brainstorm, it’s important that we understand the difference between creating an idea in our minds and actually developing it. Creating an idea means that we think of a problem, problem, or problem and then begin to come up with solutions. In other words, creating an idea is like coming up with an idea; however, when we actually develop an idea, we work our way out of the problem and create a solution.

The process is best done when we can bring the problem to the surface and find a way to solve it. To do this, we need to have a clear understanding of what problem we’re trying to solve, as well as what problem we have. We should also have a clear idea of the resources or equipment that we have available, and how we can best use those resources to solve the problem. By keeping these three elements in mind, as well as the use of visualization, we can come up with better solutions to the problems that we face.