Brainstorming ideas

Over twenty years ago two teachers got together over an idea that they could teach the lowest general math kids in an inner city school. They brainstormed all the ideas they wanted to try on a weekly basis over an energetic breakfast. They talked excitedly about progress of the students and potential of their new ideas. Many times the breakfast got cold because the time just flew by as they talked.

This last week I had an idea to push one of my classes to a different level and to expose my intern to a different style of teaching. We sat down to discuss the idea and what happened was a great brainstorming session between two teachers. The ideas and energy grew and we played off these ideas to develop a plan for a lesson covering the next 10 days to “instruction.” We each took a part of the idea: My part was to lay down the challenge to the class; Dave’s (my intern) part was to develop a way to “Guide” and evaluate the students’ progress. BUT… as usual I digress from the point of this topic. We were both excited and energized by this idea and how it grew and fit together with a greater lesson for our students about teamwork, high standards and all those 21^st century skills that are being defined and developed. The point of this is use positive teachers to Brainstorm ideas.

Teachers having fun working on new ideas!

Start from a general concept or idea of what you want your students to accomplish. The bigger and more general the concept - the better it is for the purpose of good idea generation. Then talk about how you can help the students reach these lofty goals without filtering the ideas or inserting negative thoughts. Build in the concepts of hard work, research, computers and teamwork and ShaZam you have a long term 21^st century project. If you do this right with a positive individual you will feel excited about helping your students to accomplish something they would have a feeling of pride about.

Since this was a Teaching moment for my intern I asked him to write up his reactions to what we did. If you want a copy of our Brainstormed project email me and ask for "Brainstorm ideas."

New ideas can be silly or out of this world!

Reflection on “Montessori” Physics Planning and Implementation- By Dave Vallett

The process of brainstorming this lesson took an hour, perhaps and hour and a quarter, but in perceived time elapsed it was much shorter. Larry presented me with the idea of an independent lab for our physics class on electricity and magnetism, with the idea of reducing the workload for the final week of my internship. However, as the idea grew, a number of constructivist ideas, those included in his Montessori training, were added into the lesson. The idea of issuing a challenge to the students, giving them a guide to follow, and then putting them in charge of their own learning is intriguing, and during the planning process was nothing short of exciting. I’d have to compare it to the feeling of shopping for a present for someone you know well, that feeling of excitement that comes in knowing that the person you’re purchasing the gift for is not only going to enjoy it, but that it will be something of great value to them once they have it. My anticipation for this project is something of that nature; I expect that the students will work hard to complete the task, probably gripe some (if only under their breath) about the workload, and in the end find this to be one of the few learning experiences from high school that they never forget. What in my opinion is the best aspect of a lesson like this is the enthusiasm that it generated in Larry and I at this point in the school year, an enthusiasm that has to be apparent to the students, and is likely to be contagious.