Configurations of Divergent Idea Generation

For an 85-year-old, 'Configurations of Divergent Idea Generation' transcends mere brainstorming; it becomes a vital practice for maintaining cognitive flexibility, fostering meaningful social connections, and drawing upon a lifetime of rich experience to explore new perspectives. The chosen primary tool, 'The School of Life: 100 Questions - Life's Big Questions,' is selected because it masterfully addresses these needs. It offers open-ended, profound prompts that encourage deep reflection and the generation of multiple, varied responses derived from personal history, values, and imaginative 'what if' scenarios. This directly stimulates divergent thinking without requiring abstract, business-oriented problem-solving that might be less engaging or accessible at this age.

Its strengths lie in:

1. Cognitive Maintenance & Flexibility: The questions challenge individuals to think broadly, connect disparate ideas, and consider various viewpoints, which is crucial for brain health and adaptive thinking in later life.
2. Social Connection & Purposeful Engagement: While effective for individual reflection, these cards truly shine in a group setting (family, friends, care home activities). They spark genuine conversation, encourage sharing of diverse insights, and foster a sense of belonging and intellectual contribution, combating isolation.
3. Accessible & Inclusive Design: The physical card format is easy to handle, requires no technology, and the questions are presented clearly, making it highly accessible regardless of technological proficiency or potential vision/dexterity challenges. The prompts are ageless and universally relatable, ensuring engagement.

Implementation Protocol for an 85-year-old:

• Setting: Create a calm, comfortable environment, free from distractions. Ensure good lighting and a comfortable seating arrangement, especially if used in a group.
• Individual Use: Encourage the individual to select a card daily or weekly. They can reflect on the question verbally, write down thoughts in a journal (see 'extras'), or simply ponder. Emphasize that there are no 'right' or 'wrong' answers, only personal explorations.
• Group Use (Recommended): Introduce the cards as a tool for shared discovery and connection. Designate a facilitator (could be a family member, caregiver, or the individual themselves if comfortable) to draw a card and read the question aloud. Encourage each person to share their initial thoughts, then prompt for alternative perspectives or deeper interpretations. The facilitator should ensure everyone has an opportunity to speak, validate all contributions, and gently guide the conversation to explore diverse ideas stemming from the core question. Aim for a relaxed, conversational pace, allowing for digressions and personal anecdotes, which are often rich sources of divergent thought. Emphasize active listening and respectful dialogue.
• Frequency & Duration: For individual use, 10-15 minutes of reflection daily or a few times a week. For group use, sessions of 30-60 minutes, 1-2 times a week, are ideal to maintain engagement without causing fatigue.
• Adaptation: If writing is difficult, encourage verbal responses. If reading small print is an issue, the facilitator can read the question clearly. The goal is engagement and idea generation, not adherence to a strict format.