Ideation and Brainstorming: #dtk12chat IV

I missed most of tonight's #dtk12chat, being instead stuck in traffic.  But the topic was incredibly important to me... How do we support the ideation and brainstorming phases of Design Thinking?  In between deeply understanding the problem and testing out some solutions, how do we support students in thinking bravely, creatively, radically, and *big* about every potential idea and element that can lead towards a solution?  Reading back through the conversation, here are the bits that jumped out for me...

Biggest take-aways:

• Ideation is big and risky, and requires a safe environment, including and especially for quieter introverts, but also for "but my first idea is awesome!" loud kids (*ahem*)
• Ideation requires separating your thinking from "And what will the logistics of the final product be?"... instead, just get EVERY little idea out on the table!

Lots of great resource links (highlighted) as well as very concrete ideas shared below!

Chapters:
- Q1 was "Why ideate?"
- This drew out a question re: difference between ideation and brainstorming.
- Followed by a conversation about setting up the learning environment for safe ideation, risk-taking.
- Q2 was "How do you set the stage for ideation?"
- Q3 was "What challenges do you encounter, and how to you overcome them?"
- This led to a conversation about teachers and admins doing DT together in PD!
- Q4 was "Top tip for getting ideation flowing, thinking beyond simple/obvious?"
- This led to a final brief conversation about "fitting it in" and integrating DT as mindset rather than a "unit"

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Alyssa Gallagher ‏@am_gallagher4h

People still joining, but let's get started... Q1: Why ideate? #dtk12chat

• Lisa Palmieri, Ph.D. ‏@Learn21Tech4h
  A1: ideation helps students formulate and connect ideas! #dtk12chat
• David Saunders ‏@DesignSaunders4h
  A1: to ideate is to start the process - to identify possibility, sequence and causality - it's the 1st of many steps #dtk12chat
• Dr. Lee-Anne Gray ‏@DrLeeAnneG4h
  A1: Ideation brings people together and inspires conscious evolution. #dtk12chat
• ellen deutscher ‏@lndeutsch4h
  A1--Ideation allows 4 quantity of ideas & encouraging wild ideas that can bring u to new, innnovative places #dtk12chat
• WickedDecentLearning ‏@WickedDecent4h
  A1: Ideation uncovers remote possibilities & fosters slow hunches #dtk12chat
• James Tiffin Jr. ‏@JimTiffinJr4h
  A1: We ideate to promote the fluid creation of possibilities in a risk-free and non-judgemental setting. #dtk12chat
  
  
  Kami Thordarson ‏@kamithor4h
  @jimtiffinjr Difficult for kids. That suspending judgment and reaching for something beyond what's cool with their peers. #dtk12chat
  
  
• Mary Cantwell ‏@scitechyEDU4h
  A1 ideate to dig deep go beyond the surface find connection & meaning… Also, ideate to grow attachment #dtk12chat
• Shaye Whitmer ‏@swhitmer_edu4h
  ideation is way for students to have their voices heard and to apply it to a project where they are vested. #dtk12chat
• Bonnie Jeansonne ‏@_Ms_J4h

  A1=Ideation= to download paradigms & push pass them. Our brains like to categorize early. Ideation can/ should be uncomfortable.#DTK12CHAT
• Bonnie Jeansonne ‏@_Ms_J4h
  A1= Ideation should democratize sharing rather than favour 'the loud', the confident, the few. #DTk12chat

How Might We...?

This evening was the second #dtk12chat, a twitter chat dedicated to discussing the application of design thinking in k-12 educational settings.  As I describe in my reflections on the first #dtk12chat, I'm still sort of a design thinking noob, and don't totally "get" it.  I'm learning to more deeply understand the process and mindset at the core of design thinking, rather than the steps of DesignThinking^TM.

While last week's chat was about defining terms and establishing common groups, the topic of tonight's chat was how to get *started* in design thinking.  I was completely overwhelmed immediately, so this isn't going to even come close to a summary of tweets, but rather a simpler organization of ideas.  (The chat started out with rounds of virtual hugs and welcomes, since this group is so enthusiastic about working together to bang on these ideas!)

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Mary Cantwell ‏@scitechyEDU3h

Q1: Start with Questions: Where do you start with design thinking? #dtk12chat

• Alyssa Gallagher ‏@am_gallagher3h
  A1: Helpful for me to "jump in" and experience design thinking with others. Hard to understand until you see in action #dtk12chat
• David Jakes ‏@djakes3h
  A1 A piece I wrote that describes my process, "Developing the Design Mind" http://davidjakes.me/?p=467  #dtk12chat
• Daniel Scibienski ‏@danielscib3h
  @scitechyEDU A1 movement supports creation of ideas, post-its all over classroom walls helps w/ brainstorming, sets up sharing #dtk12chat
• James Tiffin Jr. ‏@JimTiffinJr3h
  A1 We start at the elementary level, and emphasize DT at a way of approaching problems. #dtk12chat
• Lindsey Own ‏@LindseyOwn3h
  A1) We have a back-to-school intro-to-dt plan, & want to start w tchrs sharing needs, and small groups picking 1 to deeply probe #dtk12chat
• Mary Cantwell ‏@scitechyEDU3h
  Q1: At this point, Im digging deeper in my framing of questions (thx @jennzia @jscottsanchez) & looking towards more impact #dtk12chat
• James Campbell ‏@TheRealJamCam3h
  A1 This year my plan will be to start day one w/DT allow students to assist with the design of the course. implement Ss ideas #dtk12chat
• Bonnie Jeansonne ‏@_Ms_J3h
  A1: Maybe start with building questions that are What if... Why is that.. How might we... Keep a running a log? #dtk12chat

allie pasquier ‏@bakersastros3h

It seems that questions are a BIG piece of starting with design thinking. #dtk12chat

Daniel Scibienski ‏@danielscib3h

@am_gallagher @scitechyedu Photos of a walking brainstorm I did w/ ELLs @ writing (scroll down). http://workshop99.tumblr.com/  #dtk12chat

Trey Boden ‏@treyboden3h

@TheRealJamCam I do this with my Digital Media course: HMW design a digital media course for middle schoolers. Whole DEEP process #dtk12chat

• James Campbell ‏@TheRealJamCam3h
  @treyboden my thought HMW create W History class that allows student interest/voice to develop the topics of conversation #dtk12chat

Mary Cantwell ‏@scitechyEDU3h

@_Ms_J reminds me of our use of visible thinking routines to get started See Think Wonder 4 example #dtk12chat

Jennifer Chan (Jenn) ‏@jennzia3h

@danielscib @scitechyEDU when ideas and generating are visual, it makes it easier to build together and to share ownership #dtk12chat

Mary Cantwell ‏@scitechyEDU3h

Q1 Where do you start? Taking a cue from @boadams1 Take a walk have students and yourself do observational journals to Discover #dtk12chat

• Mary Cantwell ‏@scitechyEDU3h
  @am_gallagher @boadams1 here is a blog post inspited our future nature walk http://itsaboutlearning.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/fsbl-yesand-dtk12-mvpschool/ … #dtk12chat
• NicoleDalesio ‏@magrelacanela3h
  @scitechyEDU @am_gallagher @boadams1 We take photo walks as our observational journals. #dtk12chat

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(Several tweets summarizing Jim Tiffin's awesome DT/MakerEd combo project with tiny makers!)

James Tiffin Jr. ‏@JimTiffinJr3h

@am_gallagher @treyboden ...for instance, the Kindergarteners had to create a throwing game for Nursery students.... #dtk12chat

James Tiffin Jr. ‏@JimTiffinJr3h

@am_gallagher @treyboden ...the K's had to imagine what would work best for the N's, not for K's. This was the empathy element. #dtk12chat

James Tiffin Jr. ‏@JimTiffinJr3h

@scitechyEDU @am_gallagher @treyboden DT was integrated into #makered project. The K's were making LED throwies for a PE class. #dtk12chat

James Tiffin Jr. ‏@JimTiffinJr3h

@scitechyEDU @am_gallagher @treyboden Ks knew the game was for the Ns, so they kept asking themselves ?s from a N point-of-view #dtk12chat

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(Everyone leading me through a deeper level of understanding the "empathy" bit... The idea is to get *outside* yourself and probe another person's needs.)

Lindsey Own ‏@LindseyOwn3h

In DesignThinking, can "client" be yourself? I have X problem, probe myself (maybe w peer help), then to prototyping & iteration? #dtk12chat

• James Tiffin Jr. ‏@JimTiffinJr3h
  @LindseyOwn For sure! #dtk12chat
• Matt Arguello ‏@Matt_Arguello3h
  @LindseyOwn I think that seems difficult, but still possible. Having an external perspective is important. #dtk12chat
• Alexandra Fiorillo ‏@alexfiorillo2h
  @LindseyOwn Absolutely!! We practice the methodology on each other in the office all the time. Eg: I want to eat healthier lunches regularly
• Mary Cantwell ‏@scitechyEDU3h
  @LindseyOwn I think looking 2wards others who might B having the problem will make it a better setup Outside perspective #dtk12chat
• Lindsey Own ‏@LindseyOwn3h
  @am_gallagher @scitechyEDU So kids cld use dt to help design sol'ns to each others' probs? I redesign YOUR at-home homework spot? #dtk12chat
• Matt Arguello ‏@Matt_Arguello3h
  @LindseyOwn @am_gallagher @scitechyEDU Great idea. Or redesign another grade's classroom :-) #dtk12chat
• Mary Cantwell ‏@scitechyEDU3h
  @LindseyOwn @am_gallagher #dtk12chat exactly go2 each other & interview learn abt their user, discover a problem and focus needfinding

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Trey Boden ‏@treyboden3h

Flash Round: Best HMW statements you have used/seen/experienced/hope to use... GO! #dtk12chat

• Jennifer Chan (Jenn) ‏@jennzia3h
  HMW design environments to facilitate inclusive learning? #dtk12chat
• Jennifer Chan (Jenn) ‏@jennzia3h
  HMW design the places where learning happens? #dtk12chat
  
  
  (Jennifer Chan (Jenn) ‏@jennzia3h
  @treyboden @WickedDecent here's some eye candy http://beautifullearningspaces.tumblr.com/  #EdDesign @_EdDesign #dtk12chat)
  
  
• Lindsey Own ‏@LindseyOwn3h
  HMW build more inclusive empathetic communities? from @_Ms_J & HMW design a digital media course? from @treyboden #dtk12chat
• Mary Cantwell ‏@scitechyEDU3h
  @LindseyOwn HMW… design a living mural that personifies our grade (who we are right now? Or HMW… (who will we become)? #dtk12chat #art
• allie pasquier ‏@bakersastros3h
  @treyboden HMW create spaces for high/low energy? HMW create personal spaces, small group spaces, and community spaces? #dtk12chat
• James Campbell ‏@TheRealJamCam3h
  A4 HMW create a learning environment that allows for student interest/voice and covers the necessary curriculum? #dtk12chat
• Lindsey Own ‏@LindseyOwn3h
  @chrisandres003 @treyboden HMW design ongoing way throughout the year to share ourselves & establish/maintain strong community? #dtk12chat
• chris andres ‏@chrisandres0033h
  @LindseyOwn @treyboden Yes and serve others #dtk12chat

Lindsey Own ‏@LindseyOwn3h

So start teachers:"HMW solve some snag in tching routine?" Start kids:"HMW org for a great school yr?" then progress from there?

Lindsey Own ‏@LindseyOwn3h

Hard to keep track of different scales of DT... content classes for kids, school level for kids, teachers, community... Range! #dtk12chat

• James Tiffin Jr. ‏@JimTiffinJr3h
  @LindseyOwn & that's important for folks to know. DT isn't a stdnt thing or an IDEO thing. It's applicable in nearly any setting #dtk12chat

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(Lindsey Own ‏@LindseyOwn3h

@Matt_Arguello @WickedDecent @treyboden How about y'all three do a here's-what-dt-looks-like-in-my-classroom session together??? #dtk12chat #sxswedu)

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Of course, "topics for future conversations" came up! Really just the one though... but it's a big'un!

1.) HMW embrace the ambiguity of the DT process? (As well as teach and support that ambiguity for our learning colleagues.)

Jennifer Chan (Jenn) ‏@jennzia3h

@am_gallagher @danielscib @scitechyEDU the "messiness" is embracing the complexity & ambiguity, both physically & mentally #dtk12chat

Alyssa Gallagher ‏@am_gallagher3h

@jennzia @danielscib @scitechyEDU super hard for some to embrace. Could prob have an entire chat on strategies to help #dtk12chat

Jennifer Chan (Jenn) ‏@jennzia3h

@am_gallagher @danielscib @scitechyEDU I like as a session for future discussion. HMW we embrace ambiguity of the DT process? #dtk12chat

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If you made it all the way to the end, I'd love for you to let me know... What can I do to make this chunking more useful to others?  Going through the process of blogging is useful to *me,* but I can't tell whether it's even parse-able to anyone else.  Can you see the conversation chunking?  Would it help to have headers or some kind of other organizational structure?  (I'm trying to get my school colleagues into twitter, so would like to create a few resources to show them my own learning.)