The Effectiveness of Brainstorming in Developing Students’ Creative and Critical Thinking. A Case of Kakungulu Memorial School Kibuli in Makindye Division Kampala District

Abstract

This qualitative study was conducted at Kakungulu Memorial School-Kibuli in Makindye Division, Kampala District, to assess the effectiveness of brainstorming in developing learners’ critical and creative thinking. The target population was all students from grades one to three where the competence-based curriculum had been implemented. The researcher used a convenient sampling technique to select all the one hundred (100) Form 2 history students to participate in the intervention. The technique was preferred because in Uganda, history is a compulsory subject from one to four, implying that all students in Form 2 were potential participants in the study. The researcher did this to avoid the influence of external factors that could be a threat to the validity of the study. The majority of the groups worked within the principles of cooperative learning to include positive interdependence, face-to-face promotional interaction, individual and group accountability, and displayed relevant social skills such as effective communication, leadership, and meaningful decision-making. However, a number of groups were not well informed about managing conflicts in groups. Brainstorming sessions can be a useful strategy to encourage genuine collaboration and interaction in the classroom. Putting together a well-stated problem and careful planning strategies can lead to meaningful idea generation and idea building, which can be used in solving problems or addressing specific courserelated issues. Keywords: Brainstorming, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Learners