Have you ever wanted to brainstorm a topic but weren’t in a situation where you could? This could be because you’re working online, travelling or in a place where brainstorming is frowned upon. It can make having a brain dump almost impossible. This article focuses on different brainstorming tools that help you work offline and improve your productivity.
Have you ever had a question on a brainstorming online class but weren’t sure how to ask it? Brainstorming tools help liberate your brain from constraints of time and place. In today’s day and age, it’s possible for you to learn from the comfort of your own home. Already, more and more students are taking advantage of online brainstorming tools, which can be found on reputable websites, including YouTube and Google Docs.
iBrainstorm
Capturing and sharing a student’s creative mind has never been easier. iBrainstorm lets them brainstorm in the most easy way.
Students can write and add notes to the board. They can even invite up to three fellow students to participate in the brainstorm.
Students can start from scratch, or they can choose one of the 13 background templates. They can even brainstorm about how to put their football players on the field!
Scapple
Scapple is an easy-to-use tool for getting ideas down as quickly as possible and making connections between them. It isn’t exactly mind-mapping software—it’s more like a freeform text editor that allows you to make notes anywhere on the page and to connect them using straight dotted lines or arrows.
Padlet
Padlet is a great tool for both students and teachers. With this tool you can create online boards that can be shared with both of them. It is simple and intuitive, you just have to share a link with them, and the tool allows you to insert ideas and responses anonymously or with your name.
Whoever has the board open on its computer, tablet or smartphone, can see what’s on it and what everyone is writing. Students can use this tool when collaborating during teamwork projects and the teacher can use it in order to do brainstormings on a topic in class.
What you can do is simply collect ideas when you find something interesting on the web, and use it during your lessons. All you have to do is save it to a Padlet board and the students can do the same.
Google Docs
Google Docs is just like Word, but with a little (read gigantic) twist. You can work together in the same document at the same time from another device. No more sending files back and forth. No more figuring out which file was the latest.
Oh, another great thing for students: every change is saved automatically! Total disasters are not possible in Google Docs.
So why is this a brainstorm app? I’ve given Google Docs a place because its a collaboration tool and it’s very easy to use when brainstorming from home with other students over an assignment or a new project. Working together has never been so swift and easy.
Popplet
Popplet is perhaps the easiest tool so far to capture and organize ideas. In a few clicks on your device’s screen you can make “Popplets” (little squares) and add text and images. It’s easy to connect the Popplets, rearrange them, change their colour and even adjust their shape.
Popplet is awesome for learning school and even at home. Students use Popplet in order to think and learn visually and they learn to generate new ideas by capturing facts, thoughts, and images. They can also learn to make simple mind maps in just a few steps.
Trello
Trello gives you and your students a view over all the projects, assignments, etc. It’s actually an app for the business world, but I am convinced it can work in education too.
Trello lets you create boards with lists. You can name them and you can add different “cards” to the lists. Add documents, links, comments, checklists, etc., to these cards. You can invite your students to the boards with the lists. They can also add cards.
Sounds a bit confusing, doesn’t it? Take a look at this video below to see an example.
The ability for students to add cards and lists makes brainstorming easy. You can also create boards for teamwork and projects. As a teacher, you can monitor your students work via the lists they make and the cards they add. You can also use it for your lesson planning and creative ideas (like in the video).
There are so many ways to use Trello in your Classroom, so don’t stick to the video ideas. Use your imagination!
Lucidchart
Lucidchart is a web based program which allows you to create plenty of different diagrams like flow charts, mind maps, wire frames and much more. Get started with a number of templates.
Why is it so good? Well, students can work together on these charts without sending new versions by email over and over again. Collaborate with others and work on diagrams together in real time.
Lucidchart provides free educational licenses that include all premium features to schools and universities.
Miro
Miro is an endless virtual whiteboard to brainstorm and write down visual projects. You can add videos from YouTube and Vimeo and Google Docs from your Google Drive to the Whiteboard.
Students can collaborate on teamwork on different devices. They can add little memos and comment on them with the mini-chat.
The app looks a lot like iBrainstorm. However, it’s more advanced. iBrainstorm works better for younger students, Miro is perfect for the older ones who need more features.
Brainstormer
This app isn’t an app that helps you to collaborate on ideas and gives you a solution to brainstorm easily. This app gives you the idea.
Use Brainstormer in art lessons, and language lessons to give students an idea to start from. The app gives them inspiration to start with. Let them write a story, using the Brainstormer app. I’m very curious what the result will be!
Padlet
Padlet is an online bulletin board tool for teachers and students. With these boards, students and teachers can collaborate and share ideas in a new, easy-to-read way. After creating your board, it can be shared with as many teachers or students as you wish. Click a place on the board, or drag and drop, to add text, images, videos, drawings, and even files to your Padlet board to begin brainstorming together.
Students can use this for brainstorming assignments or group projects. As they are working collaboratively, they will be able to see updates in real-time. With a variety of layouts and ways to create, Padlet can be used again and again, and still feel fresh.
Features
- Autosaves changes
- Customize your board in a way that is unique to you
- Post files and embed content from Youtube, Google Drive, Spotify, and more
- Five different security options so you have full control over who can view and edit your boards
- Download the app on iOS, Android, Kindle, or Chrome along with integrating with Safari, Chrome, and Firefox
Pricing
With Padlet, you can get a Teacher Plan for $12/month or $99/year. If your whole institution is interested, check out the School Plan for $1500/year.
Conclusion:
Sometimes, you just can’t find that perfect word to express your thoughts on paper. Well, you’re in luck because the internet is filled with brainstorming tools and online class for students and teachers alike. They will help you clear your mind and refresh your ideas so you can write the best essay, report or speech.