Author Kevin Maney, in collaboration with Idea Paint, has been putting out a series of eBooks that have gotten us to reflect on how we collectively produce ideas.
They've coined the term "brainswarming" to explore an ongoing, tribe-like state of production that evolves within a creative structure. It's different from brainstorming in that it's a framework to continue thinking collaboratively after the storm is over.
"A little structure is actually an enabler. It’s the creative power of constraint."
The key here is adding a bit of rigor:
- Assembling the right mix of friends and noobs and considering the social environment of the swarm
- Warming up with a team challenge to get your mind out of its usual habits and creating a collective safe-space
- Clearly defining the problem help making sure there is a goal communicated to the group at each session.
- Dedicating public space for the project to live on in illustrations, sticky notes, and other methods of visual thinking.
- Criticizing an idea is just another way of building upon colleagues work. "Bad
ideas can lead to good debates that then lead to better ideas."
How can we help today's learners seamlessly shift between individual and collaborative modes of thinking?--- To value their teammates as thought partners, as fresh energy, as playful colleagues? --- To set, identify, and creatively embrace real-world parameters?