Participatory Methods

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a participatory activity designed to generate a wide range of ideas, concepts, or solutions in response to a problem or challenge. Participants contribute ideas freely, without initial judgment or filtering, fostering creativity, collaboration, and divergent thinking.

Preparation

  1. Define the purpose:
    • Identify the goal of the brainstorming session: solving a problem, generating ideas for a project, or exploring new concepts.
  2. Choose the topic or challenge:
    • Formulate a clear question or central problem to guide the activity. Example: “How can we make our community more sustainable?”
  3. Prepare the materials:
    • Large paper, flip charts, whiteboards, or digital tools (Miro, Padlet, Google Jamboard alternatives).
    • Markers or sticky notes to record ideas.
  4. Establish basic rules:
    • No criticism or judgment of ideas during the initial phase.
    • Encourage creativity and free association.
    • Promote building upon others’ ideas.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Introduce the purpose
    • Explain the objective of the exercise and the importance of generating ideas without restrictions in the first phase.
    • Share the basic rules to ensure a safe and creative environment.
  2. Present the topic or challenge
    • Formulate the question or describe the problem the group will address.
    • Ensure all participants understand the context and scope.
  3. Idea generation
    • Participants share their ideas aloud, writing them on paper, whiteboards, or digital tools.
    • Encourage participants to think creatively and build on others’ ideas.
  4. Grouping and initial analysis
    • Once a broad list of ideas is generated, group similar or related ones together.
    • Identify patterns, recurring themes, or promising areas for further exploration.
  5. Prioritization and selection
    • Use tools such as voting, impact matrices, or group analysis to identify the most viable or interesting ideas.
  6. Group reflection
    • Discuss the results of the process:
      • Which ideas are the most feasible or innovative?
      • What did they learn by hearing others’ perspectives?
      • How can these ideas be applied to the problem or challenge presented?
  7. Closing and next steps
    • Summarize the selected ideas and set an action plan to develop or implement them.
Recommendations
  • Encourage creativity: Motivate participants to propose bold or unconventional ideas.
  • Avoid initial judgments: Maintain a safe environment where all ideas are welcome.
  • Document all ideas: Record every proposal, even less viable ones, for future reference.
  • Promote collaborative building: Encourage participants to build on others’ ideas.
Inspiration
Materials
  • Whiteboards, flip charts, sticky notes, or collaborative digital tools.
  • Markers or pens for recording ideas.
Online platforms
Purpose
The purpose of Brainstorming is to stimulate creativity and collaboration, generating a wide range of ideas and solutions to address specific problems or challenges.
Type of activity
Participatory Action ResearchParticipatory DesignParticipatory EvaluationParticipatory InteractionParticipatory LearningParticipatory Planning
Level of participation
Information, Inquiry, Collaboration, Shared decision-making, Knowledge generation, Exchange of perspectives
Target audience
Educators, Facilitators, Students, Community leaders, NGOs and social collectives, Business teams, Government, Creative designers, Researchers
Fields of application
Education and training, Community development, Organizational and business management, Urban and rural planning, Health and social well-being, Art, culture, and creativity, Sustainability and environment, Public policies and governance, Innovation and design, Research and evaluation, Conflict resolution, Technology and digital environments, Citizen and social participation
Estimated duration
From 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the complexity of the topic and the group size.
Ideal number of participants
From 6 to 20 people, though it can be adapted for larger groups by dividing them into smaller teams.
Topics related to this activity
Active CollaborationActive LearningCollaborative Mind MapCollaborative ToolCollaborative VisualizationsCollective AnalysisCollective LearningCreative Problem SolvingGroup CreativityIdea ExchangeIdea GenerationIdea OrganizationIdea VisualizationKnowledge GenerationParticipatory AnalysisProblem SolvingVisual CommunicationVisual CreationVisual DocumentationVisual Reflection
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