Many students use online brainstorming tools to plan their projects. These tools are especially useful for students who need to work with materials located in different places. If you are a student, there is no denying the fact that several sources of information are required to complete your project. In the past, you had to visit all those places to get the material. But with online brainstorming tools, you no longer have to be physically present at these locations.
Whether you are starting a new project, writing an essay, or planning an event, brainstorming can help you outsource ideas and create mind maps. Brainstorming a topic before writing about it helps students focus their ideas and direct them in the writing process.
For some students, this pandemic may have demonstrated that it is possible to collaborate with others from the comforts of their homes. Even when this pandemic blows over, in-person group meetings may no longer be regarded as necessary for success.
Online group projects require students to adopt and leverage the appropriate tools to bring their work to fruition. Brainstorm and generate ideas for students and teachers with online brainstorming tools and activities. These free brainstorming tools can be used in class or at home.
Brainstorming Tools
Students are asked to brainstorm ideas all the time. However, it has been found that students are most successful after they have developed their own opinions on an issue, which is why many teachers suggest brainstorming activities for students before writing an essay or starting a new project.
There are now several web tools that can be used and most often for free to create visually appealing mindmaps. These tools can help our students pin their ideas down on a target topic and enrich their written pieces
Kidspiration Maps
Versatile easy-to-use graphic organizer for early elementary
Bottom line: A tool teachers and kids can use in every subject area.Grades: K–3 Price: $9.99 Get it now
Popplet
Minimalist mind mapping to organize ideas
Bottom line: Easy-to-use idea organizer can help with simple mind mapping.Grades: 1–12 Price: Free, Paid
MURAL
Multifaceted interactive whiteboard promotes collaboration
Bottom line: MURAL facilitates lesson presentation and group project collaboration from anywhere by making idea sharing a simple, visual process.Grades: K–12 Price: Free, Free to try, Paid
Text 2 Mind Map
The basic tool helps kids see how concepts relate
Bottom line: Text 2 Mind Map can be used as a helpful organizational tool, but would be stronger with additional content and added security.Grades: 3–12 Price: Free, Paid
Lucidchart
The intuitive editor helps users create and share dynamic visual diagrams
Bottom line: Students and teachers can use this tool alone or collaboratively to build and share stunning, effective visuals that stretch thinking.Grades: 4–12 Price: Free, Paid
Coggle
The creative, visual mind-mapping tool makes brainstorming a cinch
Bottom line: Simplicity is the key with Coggle: Students can create elaborate mind maps and brainstorms in a matter of minutes, and the collaboration options are a nice bonus.Grades: 5–12 Price: Free, Paid
Inspiration Maps VPP
Versatile mind-mapping tool offers many options for organizing ideas
Bottom line: Inspiration Maps can help students learn to organize information, a skill they will find invaluable in school and in life.Grades: 5–12 Price: Free to try, Paid to Get it now
MindMeister
Powerful mind mapper aimed at adults, simple enough for older kids
Bottom line: Sophisticated productivity tool enhances learning and organization with a simple dashboard and slick workspace.Grades: 5–12 Price: Free, Paid
Stormboard
Collaborate, brainstorm in real-time with an easy-to-use online whiteboard
Bottom line: A versatile, full-featured online brainstorming collaboration tool that can facilitate small-group projects.Grades: 5–12 Price: Free, Free to try, Paid
Corkulous Standard
Brainstorm, organize and present on this tidy virtual corkboard
Bottom line: This visually appealing, simple-to-use corkboard is most useful with Pro upgrade.Grades: 6–12 Price: Paid
Prezi Next
Multimedia presentation tool features useful templates and 3D zoom
Bottom line: With its zoom in and out capabilities, Prezi helps teachers and students go beyond traditional slideshows to put important content front and center.Grades: 6–12 Price: Free, Free to try, Paid
Trello (Manage projects)
Students often work on multiple projects simultaneously and it can be easy to lose track of the endless list of tasks that have to be completed. Fortunately, project management applications such as Trello can help with that!
Users can create a Trello board for each of their projects before inviting their group mates to collaborate on the board. Our advice is for students to create different sections to categorize each task under. Some examples of section headers can be: ‘ideation,’ ‘work in progress,’ and ‘awaiting review.’ As each task moves up the stages of development, students will be able to drag and drop these tasks under the relevant category.
With Trello, students can track the group’s progress on different aspects of their project and thus devote more attention to weak areas that need more pushing.
Alternatives to Trello:
Slack (Communicate for work)
Slack is a virtual workspace that brings individuals together for work purposes. Within Slack, you can create different channels to segregate departments and different work processes.
If you are a student managing a group project, you may consider designating channels for announcements, idea generation, writing, designing, and even a coffee talk channel for some downtime between work!
If you are a teacher, you could create private channels to manage and weigh in on conversations within each project group. That way, Slack serves as a centralized platform to stay up to date on each group’s progress.
Slack also allows you to set office timings such that notifications will be turned off beyond your preset hours. When we are working from home, it is important to set boundaries and to balance work and relaxation.
Alternatives to Slack:
MindMeister (Create collaborative mind maps)
Katherine Schulten and Sarah Gross write in the New York Times that “mind mapping, goes beyond note-taking and can be used for organizing, problem-solving and brainstorming.” Mindmaps are useful for visualizing concepts and drawing links that may not be immediately obvious.
MindMeister is a free online mind mapping tool that enables students to work together in real-time to create mind maps detailing their ideas. With the ability to link different bubbles with arrows and to add pictures within each bubble, MindMeister is an excellent tool for visual learners to organize their thoughts.
In group projects, students may diverge in their way of thinking. Mind maps are inclusive ways to display multiple perspectives. With this big picture view of the topic, students will be able to brainstorm and arrive at a consensus faster and more efficiently.
Alternatives to MindMeister:
Google Meet (discuss ideas through video conferencing)
Sometimes, talking it out over video is more productive than communicating over text messages through Slack or emails. Google Meet enables users to schedule online meetings in advance. Once the invitation is accepted, students will be able to add the details to their Google calendar.
Google Meet is accessible across a range of devices including desktop, Android, and Apple devices.
Alternatives to Google Hangouts:
HeyHi’s online whiteboard
So far, we have covered four different tools that enable students to collaborate and brainstorm for project ideas. Now, we are pleased to introduce you to HeyHi, an online whiteboard that enables students to schedule video conferences and brainstorm ideas with the aid of a blank canvas.
On HeyHi’s online whiteboard, students can make handwritten notes and drawings to brainstorm ideas. Students have the freedom to present their ideas in a way that is most productive for them. Whether students generate better ideas with arrows, Venn diagrams, or doodles, students are not restricted to a limited selection of arrows and bubbles with HeyHi’s online whiteboard.
By signing up for a free HeyHi account, students will be able to schedule and invite their group members to meetings. These meetings can only be accessed with a meeting ID and an access code. Therefore, you can be assured that the security and safety of students are a top priority for developers at HeyHi.
With built-in video conferencing features superimposed on HeyHi’s online whiteboard, students will not have to toggle between different applications. Students will feel more at ease discussing, conversing, and brainstorming with their friends using HeyHi’s online whiteboard.
If you are prone to letting your ideas run wild and brainstorming on pen and paper often leads to multiple sheets of paper covered with scribbles, HeyHi’s online whiteboard is perfect for you. HeyHi’s online whiteboard is expandable. If you run out of space as you generate ideas, simply shift to another section of the whiteboard or zoom out to reveal more whiteboard space!
HeyHi’s online whiteboard is available in browsers and on Android and iOS devices.
Alternatives to HeyHi:
Conclusion
Brainstorming is a method of idea generation that brings a great strategy to help students become more creative and resourceful. Brainstorming enhances the ability to learn by exploring new ways of conducting research on any specific topic or for class assessment writing.