1. What is Brainswarming?
A creativity exercise designed to illuminate pathways to reach goal
A different way to brainstorm: switch from talking to writing to improve effectiveness of group work.
Goal grows downward into refined sub-goals.
Resources are added at the bottom and grow upward to connect with the sub-goals.
Solutions emerge when the goals and resources connect.
Brainstorming is a great way to generate ideas, but it can be inefficient and can mean that only a few group members contribute when some dominate the discussion and others hang back.
Assets

2. Two types of thinkers?

3. An Example

4. Visualizing the Brainswarm
Goal
Solutions
Pathways
Assets

5. So what next?

6. Instructions – Brainswarming Exercise
First 10 min: Write down assets on the bottom or refine the solutions at the top. Add to board
Duplicates are fine
Read what others are adding and build off those ideas
Do this quietly…try not to talk
10 min: Find connections and pathways to your solutions
Rearrange steps & resources
Group things that make sense to group
Draw connections
Find pathways that connect solutions and resources
Do this collaboratively…ok to talk
First step – group conversation to come up with resources and 3-5 solutions based on the problem statement that they’re trying to solve. These are the solutions that we think can help get to solving that problem.
Tell them to think high level - think of 3-5 highest level solutions