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Exercises/Reflection and Learning/3 Seeking Innovation
Relationship Mapping · Reflection and Learning

3 Seeking Innovation

By using mind mapping, participants describe the landscape of an issue and then use word connections to generate new ideas that can be developed into workable and innovative new directions.

5 to 15 minutesTIME
Pairs, Small group (4-8)GROUP SIZE
QuietENERGY
RemoteSETTING
High cognitive loadCOGNITIVE LOAD
Strengthens Learning Transfer This reflection and learning exercise strengthens Learning Transfer, one of the eight Gathering Effectiveness pillars.

How to run it

  1. This activity describes a simple practice for generating innovative ideas.
  2. By using mind mapping, participants describe the landscape of an issue and then use word connections to generate new ideas that can be developed into workable and innovative new directions.
  3. 5.0 1 rating(s) average rating is 5 out of 5, based on 1 votes, rating(s) Learning Goal Practice using “good word connections” as a strategy for sparking innovative thinking.
  4. Previous Next Instructions Reflection Journal Practice Journal Additional Resources Activity Cluster Instructions Set Up: Prepare for the Activity Select a topic or area of concern that is important to your group.
  5. Select a topic or area of concern that is important to your group.
  6. If possible, take inventory of what participants already know about this topic prior to the first gathering. This could be collected using an asynchronous mind map platform, like mindmeister.com.
  7. Begin by introducing the learning goals of this activity.
Live facilitator

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Prompts to use +

By using mind mapping, participants describe the landscape of an issue and then use word connections to generate new ideas that can be developed into workable and innovative new directions.

Previous Next Instructions Reflection Journal Practice Journal Additional Resources Activity Cluster Instructions Set Up: Prepare for the Activity Select a topic or area of concern that is important to your group.

Select a topic or area of concern that is important to your group.

If possible, take inventory of what participants already know about this topic prior to the first gathering. This could be collected using an asynchronous mind map platform, like mindmeister.com.

Begin by introducing the learning goals of this activity.

Run this with your AI assistant +

Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.

Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: 3 Seeking Innovation. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: By using mind mapping, participants describe the landscape of an issue and then use word connections to generate new ideas that can be developed into workable and innovative new directions.; Previous Next Instructions Reflection Journal Practice Journal Additional Resources Activity Cluster Instructions Set Up: Prepare for the Activity Select a topic or area of concern that is important to your group.; Select a topic or area of concern that is important to your group.; If possible, take inventory of what participants already know about this topic prior to the first gathering. This could be collected using an asynchronous mind map platform, like mindmeister.com.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.

Origin unverified

  • Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Collaborative Discussion Project; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including Collaborative Discussion Project.)
  • What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
  • No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
  • Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.

Pairs well with