Quick List Method
Use:
The “Quick List Method” is a brainstorming tool that collects group input in a quick manner.
Brainstorming creates a framework for all members to share their ideas and to generate a list of items for further discussion or to display in the room.
Brainstorming is meant to be an engaging, creative process for groups to gather and capture their ideas on a wide-range of subjects. It can serve as an easy way to engage a group in a discussion. It is a great icebreaker in the beginning of class or event.
Examples:
- to create the norms of conduct of your class: Ask “What could turn this class into a total disaster?” Then you turn it into the positive. (people can do it on a T-chart)
- to learn about interests or previous knowledge about a topic
- to review topics from last class and see what stuck
- to review topics at the end of the class
- to get a range of questions people have about topic
- to activate knowledge about a topic
Instructions:
- Ask a relatively simple question
- Have group divide up into groups around a flipchart
- Ask the team to pick a scribe and a presenter
- Ask them to generate as many ideas as they can in 2 minutes
- Ask them to put a title on top of the chart so that we know what the chart is about when we expose in the space later on
- Ask people to not judge the ideas
- Ask participants to report to the bigger group
Note: this exercise is easier and more fun in the negative, especially as an icebreaker. Then you can turn it into the positive.
Instructions for the participants
- In table teams / groups of (5)
- On a flipchart quick list all …
- Put the title on your flipchart.
- Pick a scribe and a presenter.
- You have 2 minutes! Go!
For the facilitator
- After a group presents, ask for a round of applause.
- If you are working in the negative, ask people to draw a big international sign for prohibition through it.
- Then say: what we have done in the negative, we have goals in the positive: let’s strive for, let’s get rid of… You can comment that it is a funny way to do it in the negative but that it is very serious business.
Examples of questions:
- How can this organization (PTSA, school board, teacher, student….) fail?
- What could turn this event / year a complete disaster?
- What do bad teachers / students do?
- How could your students derail their learning?
- List all of the worst student behaviors and actions you can think of….
Build Method (use together with the quick list)
- As the first group reports out, have the subsequent groups check off the exact ideas with the intention they will not repeat them
- Have the presenter only present the new ideas
- Subsequent boards continue to check off
- Report only new ideas to the bigger group
- At the end of the presentation, it is much easier to see what elements are complementing and to compile one single list: all the items that are not checked off.
