Brainstorming works by focusing on a problem, and then deliberately coming up - without a predefined order - with as many original solutions as possible, pushing ideas to the limit.

Knowledge Master is the ideal system for brainstorming
in the enterprise and in education as well.

The basis of brainstorming is generating ideas, individually or in a group, based on the principle of suspending judgment: a principle which scientific research has proved  to be highly productive in individual effort as well as in group effort.

Certainly, groups are not indispensable to stimulate creative thinking. Individually we can brainstorm. Furthermore, in a group we must listen to others and maybe spend time repeating our own ideas to get sufficient attention from the others. 

Another interesting and productive approach is to individually generate the central idea, and afterwards have it developed by others in more directions. Usually we get more than what could be obtained by the originator.

It is always possible to newly analyze the output of a brainstorming session in a second group (more reduced or more specialized than the first one), to try to improve solutions even with other tools - even more conventional.

It is essential that the ideas generation phase is separated from the judgment phase of thinking. 

The judgment phase is not less important. The resulting idea map will be studied and processed, annotating every element, connecting local or network information, and classifying  nodes until a state considered acceptable will be reached, suitable to extract the necessary conclusions.

Some people are intuitive and flexible, others are rigid and logical. The creative thinker may be more productive in the initial phase of brainstorming, and the critical thinker in evaluating the real possibilities of concreteness.

	A brainstorming session with Knowledge Master is very simple: it enables simply and effortlessly to insert the brainstorming cognitive elements in the map, and connect them directly to data, because information is always available.
	It is very simple to insert new cognitive elements, individually or in a group.
	With Knowledge Master already during brainstorming, it is possible to associate metadata (information categories), search and retrieval of whatever kind of information in the system, and even directly access WWW resources.
	In the judgment and evaluation phase it is possible to create structures similar to those of semantic networks, usable as work tools in the successive phases.
	It is possible to identify text sequences even in large files, using them as elements of our cognitive system.
	The possibility of stratifying maps in layers (or dimensions) enables considering as unlimited the available graphical representation space.

What really renders useful the brainstorming activity is getting to understand and harmonize the elements that respond to the classical questions:

 Who, How, What, Why, When, Where.

Brainstorming can either be carried out  efficiently by individuals, groups or both:

	The most convenient map type for the brainstorming initial phase is the mind map; you can start the mind map from scratch or select the mind map template, ready made in Knowledge Master. Just replace the conventional default names and complete.
	Individual brainstorming tends to produce a wider range of ideas than group brainstorming, but tends not to develop the ideas as effectively, perhaps as individuals on their own run up against problems they cannot solve. Individuals are free to explore ideas in their own time without any fear of criticism, and without being dominated by other group members.
	Group brainstorming develops ideas more deeply and effectively, as when difficulties in the development of an idea by one person are reached, another person's creativity and experience can be used to break them down. Group brainstorming tends to produce fewer ideas (as time is spent developing ideas in depth) and can lead to the suppression of creative but quiet people by loud and uncreative ones.
	Individual and group brainstorming can be mixed, perhaps by defining a problem individually, and then letting team members initially come up with a wide range of possibly shallow solutions. These solutions could then be enhanced and developed by group brainstorming.

A few simple rules to successful group brainstorming:

	A leader should take control of the session, initially defining the problem to be solved with any criteria that must be met, and then keeping the session on course. The leader should try to keep the brainstorming on subject, and should try to steer it towards the development of some practical solutions.
	He or she should encourage an enthusiastic, uncritical attitude among participants and encourage participation by all members of the team. The session should be announced as lasting a fixed length of time, and the leader should ensure that no train of thought is followed for too long.
	Participants in the brainstorming process should come from as wide a range of disciplines with as broad a range of experience as possible. This brings many more creative ideas to the session.
	Participants should be encouraged to have fun brainstorming, coming up with as many ideas as possible, from solidly practical ones to wildly impractical ones in an environment where creativity is welcomed. All ideas will be accepted and inserted.
	Ideas must not be criticized or evaluated during the brainstorming session. Criticism introduces an element of risk for a group member in putting forward an idea. This stifles creativity and cripples the free running nature of a good brainstorming session, blocking the smooth running of brainstorming. It's a lot easier to discard the less important ideas at the end than having more. (But isn't it a time loss? No, if these ideas apparently unrealizable or strange, stimulate other original or innovative ideas in other group members…).
	Participants must be encouraged to build on other peoples' ideas, and try combinations, enhancements and improvements.
	Participants should not only come up with new ideas in a brainstorming session, but should also 'spark off' from associations with other people's ideas and develop other people's ideas.
	Another approach is making a group develop on a central idea generated by an individual, in several directions, more than what the original author could have done.

At the end, the task of effectively and efficiently organizing information, corresponds individually to almost everyone in an organization that intensively  manages information.

That's why it is important to adopt the more efficient and productive tools and techniques.

Everyone agrees that computer aided brainstorming (group or individual) is the more productive.

Using Knowledge Master is the modern and efficient solution, because it is technically powerful, intuitive and simple to use

Brainstorming is not an exclusive activity of the enterprise environment: on the contrary, at school it plays an important role in the education of students. This large or small group activity encourages children to focus on a topic and contribute to the free flow of ideas.

The teacher may begin by posing a question or a problem, or by introducing a topic.

Students then express possible answers, relevant words and ideas.

Contributions are accepted without criticism or judgment. Initially, some students may be reluctant to speak out in a group setting but brainstorming is an open sharing activity which encourages all children to participate. 

By expressing ideas and listening to what others say, students adjust their previous knowledge or understanding, accommodate new information and increase their levels of awareness.

Teachers should emphasize active listening during these sessions. Students should be encouraged to listen carefully and politely to what their classmates contribute, to tell the speakers or the teacher when they cannot hear others clearly and to think of different suggestions or responses to share.

Learning techniques with concept maps

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