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Introduction

The 6-3-5 method is a brainstorming technique in which a group of six people write down three ideas each on a given topic in five minutes. These ideas are then circulated for further development and refinement.

6 – 3 – 5

The 6-3-5 technique is also known as brainwriting or brainstorming.

Description

What is this technique about

The 6-3-5 method is a structured brainstorming technique that involves a group of six people generating and developing ideas on a given topic. The goal of 6-3-5 Brainwriting is for 6 people to write down 3 ideas on a worksheet in 5 minutes, which is where the name comes from.  After each person writes down three ideas, they pass the paper to the next person, who can add to the idea or start a new one.  In 30 minutes, there are 108 ideas after 6 rounds. The next steps are to remove duplicates, put the solutions into groups, and find the best one (for example, perhaps by dot-voting.).

For which purposes is it used

In a secondary school context, the 6-3-5 method can be used as a tool to encourage active participation and collaboration among students in group projects or classroom discussions. It can also help students to develop their creative thinking skills and generate new ideas for class assignments or extracurricular activities.

Limitations

  • One limitation of the 6-3-5 method is that it may not work as effectively if the participants are not sufficiently motivated or engaged in the topic that is being discussed.
  • There is a risk that the group may become overly focused on a particular idea or perspective and miss other valuable options.

How to implement these technique/tools

Make sure the students have any material to take notes. For online, any document-sharing application is good. For example, google docs, notepad.

Preparation, before the session:

  • Select a topic or problem that is relevant and engaging for the students. Make a presentation for students to explain.
  • Provide clear instructions and guidelines for the method and encourage students to be respectful and non-judgmental towards each other's ideas.
  • Arrange the classroom in circles or workspace in groups to allow for easy collaboration and sharing of ideas.
  • Make sure that writing materials are provided, such as pens and paper, for each student. In an online context, a notepad and an online tool would be sufficient.

 

During the session:

  • Set clear guidelines and expectations for the session to ensure that all participants understand the purpose and process of the method.
  • All students must be encouraged to give ideas in the activity.
  • Encourage active participation and collaboration among all the participants to ensure all ideas are considered and discussed.
  • Teacher or facilitator can keep the session on track, manage the time, and help resolve conflicts or issues.
  • Use a timer to ensure that each round of brainstorming is completed within the allotted time and encourage participants to stay focused and avoid distractions.
  • Provide feedback and evaluate the ideas generated during the session to determine which are most viable and relevant to the problem or topic.
  • Example of the flow: Most of the time, the 6-3-5 exercise has a structured flow. It starts with introducing the topic or problem to be brainstormed and explaining what the method is for and how it works. Participants are divided into teams of six, given writing materials and a blank sheet of paper, and asked to write down three ideas related to the topic within a time limit of five minutes. Each sheet is passed around the group five times, with each participant reading the ideas on the sheet and adding three more ideas. The teacher or facilitator collects the sheets of paper and reviews the ideas generated by the group, after which they are discussed and evaluated by the group.

Follow-up after the session:

  • After the exercise is finished, review the concepts, and invite discussion among the team(s). The ideas in this step benefit from grouping, tagging, and sorting. Remove clustering of duplicate ideas.
  • Additionally, let your students vote for the most innovative and practical suggestions using online voting tools. At this point, employing the NAF Technique might be a wise choice. This might enable you to emphasise particular concepts.

Examples and/or testimonials

Example of how it can be used in secondary school.

Some examples of ideas generated by the students using the 6-3-5 method for improving school lunch options could include: introducing more vegetarian and vegan options, sourcing food locally to support small businesses and reduce carbon footprint, implementing a system for students to vote on their favourite lunch options, improving the variety and quality of snacks and drinks, and organising cooking workshops to teach students how to prepare healthy meals at home.

Links: https://www.mindtools.com/ak3qj17/brainwriting

Tools needed

Writing materials (such as pens and paper) and a timer to keep track of the time limits for idea generation. For online: Laptop, Internet connection, notepad for notes, and tools such as Miro or Mural.

Resources

Links:

Videos:

Papers:

  • Litcanu, M., Prostean, O., Oros, C., & Mnerie, A. V. (2015). Brain-writing vs. Brainstorming case study for power engineering education. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 191, 387-390.
  • Sari, E. K., & Fitrawati, F. (2018). USING 6-3-5 BRAINWRITING IN HELPING SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DOING BRAINSTORMING IN WRITING PROCESS. Journal of English Language Teaching, 7(3), 531-537.

Books:

Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2021). Better learning through structured teaching: A framework for the gradual release of responsibility. ASCD.

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