Helping students to generate ideas

• Our students came up with some fairly general ideas using a mind map. Then, they worked co-operatively in teams to further develop some concepts. We evaluated each concept – we rated them using our criteria (for success).
• We teach our students thinking skills – concept maps, brainstorming, pmi's (plus, minus and interesting).
• Our students researched solutions to similar needs – and they evaluated how well others had resolved the problem.”
• We found that we had to give our students time to think, negotiate and compromise – particularly working closely with our outside partners to see what is practical.
• It was really important to give kids time to work through their own ideas and suggestions.