In any classroom activity, the teacher’s ability to ask questions and get students to ask questions is essential to achieving the objectives of the activity. The Starbursting Method is a method of developing creativity, similar to brainstorming. The goal of the method is to get as many questions as possible and thus as many connections as possible between concepts.
It is a way to stimulate individual and group creativity and can be successfully used in history classes within the SECOND CHANCE program.
Organized in groups, starbursting facilitates the participation of the entire collective, stimulates the creation of questions to questions, just as brainstorming develops the construction of ideas on ideas.
Starbursting
a) Situation:
Formulating as many questions as possible regarding the announced theme: World War I Starburtsing starts from the center of the concept and spreads outwards with questions, like the stellar explosion.
b) Purpose:
Stimulating students’ creativity by creating questions to questions and thus obtaining as many connections as possible between concepts.
c) Content:
1. The teacher announces the theme: World War I
2. The team is organized in preferential groups (5-6 members).
3. The groups work to develop a list with as many questions as possible and as diverse as possible.
4. Communication of the results of the group work.
5. Highlighting the most interesting questions and appreciating teamwork. Optionally, answers to some of the questions can also be developed.
-When?
-Where?
-Why?
-Who?
-How?
d) Recommended number of participants: 6-24 students
e) Venue: indoor
f) Time needed: 20 – 45 minutes
g) Materials: sheets of flipchart paper, markers.
h) Evaluation: The teacher checks the students to see what they have learned through a test, through questions or by developing a structured essay.
i) Competences, values and attitudes targeted:
• use of vocabulary and information in oral or written communication;
• use of time and space coordinates in solving a problem situation;
• use of historical sources, methods and techniques appropriate to history to solve problems;
• development of critical thinking;
• students freely express their opinions;
• strengthening self-confidence;
• positive relationships with others;
• active participation;
• involving all students in preparing the work tasks;
• encouraging team spirit.
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This article is based on one of the methods presented in the ERASMUS+ training course, KA1, FACING DIVERSITY: INCLUSIVE EDUCATION STRATEGIES FOR LEARNERS WITH FEWER OPPORTUNITIES, BARCELONA, SPAIN, held from 04/04/2024 to 08/04/2024, within the Erasmus+ project 2023-1-RO01-KA121-ADU-000130406-Learner mobility in adult education.