Using the SCAMPER Method
A researcher named Bob Eberle developed a set of questions for understanding any subject better. He used the acronym SCAMPER to identify the question sets that are described in the following chart.
Substitute | What can I use instead? Who can be involved instead? What other ingredients, materials, or power sources can I use? Where else could I do this? |
Combine | How could I put two or more things together? How could I get two or more results from this? How can I appeal to more people about this? |
Adapt | What changes would improve this? How could this better fit the situation? What could I “copy” from the past? |
Magnify | How can I make this bigger and more powerful? How can I increase performance or appeal? How can I slow it down or speed it up? |
Put to Other Uses | What else could I do with this? Who else would be interested in this? Where else could I apply this? |
Eliminate | How can I make this smaller and more precise? How can I decrease the cost? How can I streamline this? |
Rearrange | What other layout or order could I use? How can I look at this from a completely different perspective? How can I solve a different part of the problem? How can I reverse cause and effect? |
Your Turn Answer one question from each of the SCAMPER categories about a current project you are working on at home or in school. What new possibilities come to mind? (Download a SCAMPER sheet from thoughtfullearning.com/h353.)