SCAMPER

SCAMPER Technique for Creative Thinking

SCAMPER is a brainstorming technique that enables students to consider alternative ideas through a seven-step process: (1) substitute, (2) combine, (3) adapt, (4) modify or magnify, (5) put to other uses, (6) eliminate or minify, and (7) rearrange or reverse.

This is useful because many tasks that are complex require students to design unique solutions. To bolster this creative process, SCAMPER assists students by helping them to consider multiple alternatives and develop a variety of ideas which is the generating cognitive process within the Create level. This is an ideal process for students to use when brainstorming topics for a research paper, poem, experiment, or project.

The infographic illustrate the SCAMPER technique to brainstorm design of a denim jacket.

Check out these articles to learn the detailed steps in the implementation of SCAMPER as brainstorming and problem-solving techniques.

What do SCAMPER exercises look like in the classroom?

Image by Irene B from Pixabay

SCAMPER example — Development of new food product

This is an exercise in a course, Food Product Development. Students are assigned to small groups. Each group is required to agree on an idea for a new product to develop and sell. Students share their ideas, with each group selecting what they feel is the best idea and then using the SCAMPER process to consider ways to improve the idea.

One such group decides to develop a nutritious high-energy lunch cereal snack bar for busy workers and uses the following criteria to refine its idea.

  • SUBSTITUTE: Could we substitute any of the ingredients to make it more cost-efficient?

  • COMBINE: Could we sell complimentary snacks to attract more people?

  • ADAPT: Do we anticipate problems that will cause us to adapt our business model?

  • MODIFY OR MAGNIFY: Could we make a special snack bar for people on a special diet?

  • PUT TO OTHER USES: Can our high-energy snack bar be marketed as food for sports athletes?

  • ELIMINATE OR MINIMISE: Could we eliminate any ingredients in our snack bar to lessen the cost?

  • REARRANGE OR REVERSE: Would changing the order or the ratio of our ingredients improve our recipe?

Read the following articles to see more examples of how SCAMPER can be used in your own classroom.

YOUR TURN NOW

Let's apply the SCAMPER technique to help Mr Ahmad, the nasi lemak seller with his struggling business.

Time: 15-20 min | Tool: Any mind map tool such as Popplet; Table in Google Doc; free SCAMPER template (by miro)

Problem statement:

Ahmad has been selling nasi lemak at his roadside stall. Lately, his sales have been dwindling and the problem is compounded with the pandemic. How can you help him to improve his sales? Time to try out the SCAMPER technique.

If you wish to set up a table in Google doc for this exercise, you can choose one of the following templates (make a copy):