Edward De BonoSix Thinking Hats

An aid to creative thinking‘You can analyse the past,

but you can design the future.’Edward de Bono

Challenge 1

• Research has shown that the best way to stimulate the creative part of the brain, is to stimulate it with practice.

• You have 60 seconds to write as many uses as you can think of for wire coat hangers

How many uses did you come up with?

On average 12 year old boys come up with 25 uses of the coat hanger.

Is our our ability to think creatively at risk of being lost?

• In most cases pre-school children explore their world through imagination and investigation and exercise ‘possibility thinking’(the engagement of everyday problems at a deep level).

• As children become older, the prescriptive world of formal education pushes children through a series of educational narrow gates reduces their capacity to exercise ‘possibility thinking.’

‘Creativity is more valuable than knowledge; Knowledge is limited, but creativity encircles the earth.’ Albert Einstein

What are the characteristics of creative thinking?

Creative thinking is characterised by:

• Imagination• Open-mindedness• A willingness to

explore unexpected routes

• Offer tools to address the issue.

How can we recognise creative thinking?

When pupils are thinking and behaving creatively in the classroom, you are likely to see them:

• Questioning and challenging• Making connections and

seeing relationships.• Envisaging what might be• Exploring ideas, keeping

options open• Reflecting critically on ideas,

actions and outcomes.

Source: Creativity: Find it, promote it, QCA

Thinking in hats (Edward de Bono)

• To aid creative thinking Edward de Bono came up with six notional hats that can be put on and taken off easily.

• The hats are designed to indicate a role or mode of thinking.

• It is based on the principle of parallel thinking.

Parallel Thinking

The Red Hat

• What do you feel about the suggestion?

• What are your gut reactions?

• What intuitions do you have?

• Don’t think too long or too hard.

The White Hat

• The information seeking hat.

• What are the facts?• What information is

available? What is relevant?

• When wearing the white hat we are neutral in our thinking.

The Yellow Hat

• The sunshine hat.• It is positive and

constructive.• It is about

effectiveness and getting a job done.

• What are the benefits, the advantages?

The Black Hat

• The cautious hat.• In black hat the

thinker points out errors or pit-falls.

• What are the risks or dangers involved?

• Identifies difficulties and problems.

• This is the creative mode of thinking.

• Green represents growth and movement.

• In green hat we look to new ideas and solutions.

• Lateral thinking wears a green hat.

The Green Hat

• The control hat, organising thinking itself.

• Sets the focus, calls for the use of other hats.

• Monitors and reflects on the thinking processes used.

• Blue is for planning.

The Blue Hat

Six Thinking Hats

IntuitiveInformative

Constructive

Cautious

CreativeReflective

Black hat thinking

Your task

You have two minutes to discuss the following using black hat thinking.

What if you had an extra eye in the back of your head?

Green hat Thinking

Your 2 minute task

A man is walking down a busy street with a brown paper bag over his head. Put on your green hat to suggest possible reasons why he might be doing this. Try to come up with at least 5 possibilities.

Red hat thinking

Your task

You have two minutes to say how feel about the painting opposite.

Survival (A simulation game)• A ball of steel wool.• A small axe• A loaded 45 calibre pistol• A can of Crisco shortening (Lard)• Newspapers (one per person)• Cigarette lighter (without fluid)• Extra shirt & pants for each

survivor• 20 x 20 ft piece of heavy-duty

canvas• A sectional air map made of plastic• One quart of of 100% proof

whisky• A compass• Family size chocolate bars

Your collaborative thinking task

You and your companions have just survived the crash of a small plane. Your task is to list the 12 items listed in order of importance for your survival. You must come to an agreement as a group(See information sheet for help)

How can the six hat thinking hat strategy be used with children?

Through the following examples;

• Book orientated activities.

• Problem solving/decision making activities

• Enquiry/research projects

• Teamwork/collaborative activities.

• Issues based activities.

Developing thinking using the hats

Now try the following activities

Activity 1

Use the six hat thinking strategy to write a character profile of either Harry Potter or Snow

White.

Activity 2

The thinking strategy can be used to support AfL• How did you feel about your work today?(Red

hat) • What went well in your work? (White hat)• What problem or difficulties did you find? (Black

hat)• How could you improve your work? (Green hat)

Activity 3The thinking hat strategy can be used to help

children risk assess activities.• Where are you going? (White hat)• How do you feel about the trip? (Red hat)• What benefits will you gain from the trip? (Yellow

hat)• What are the risks that you may encounter? (Black

hat)• What could you do to prevent these risks from

happening? (Green hat)

Activity 4

The new kid on the block scenario

A new pupil has joined the school in the middle of the school term. On entering the classroom you notice that he is very nervous and withdraws into the corner of the room. Say how you would use the six hat strategy to make the boy feel welcomed and at ease.

Planning task

Choose one lesson that you will do with your children this term and plan an activity using Debono’s six hat thinking strategies.

What are the benefits of the thinking hat strategy?

• Develops learners as independent thinkers.

• Raises attainment.

• Improves behaviour

• Builds a positive sense of self-esteem.

• Develops self evaluation

• Improved standards of work across the curriculum

1. Develop new ideas regarding thinking with all members of staff

2.Introduce the new idea of the hats through assembly

3. Introduce one hat and new idea at a time.

4. Try out the thinking hats and new ideas with the pupils

5. Share new knowledge and ideas and link these to the schools’ vision, aims and teaching and learning policy

Developing a whole school approach to

thinking using the six hat strategy.

To finish……..

‘Perhaps the most important benefit from teaching thinking is the increase in self-esteem and self-confidence of those taught. A youngster taught thinking feels in control of his of her life-instead of feeling like a cork carried along by a stream of life and controlled by the currents.’ Edward de Bono.

Edward De Bono: Six Thinking Hats

Useful web site

For lesson plans and handouts on the six hat thinking strategy go to

http://schoolnet.gov.mt/tsmiddle/lesson_material.htm

G&T Headlines results 2010

• KS1 L3+      LA consistently above national figures and

statistical neighbours       2010 figures show that the LA is 5% above

national for L3 reading, an increase of 3% from last year

       In writing, 3% increase over last year, 4% above national

     In maths, 3% increase over last year, 6% above national

 

G&T Headlines 2010

• KS2 L5+•       In English, matching national

average for last 3 years• Dip in Maths over last 2 years, by

1% last year and 4% this year• Science 2009 shows a 1% drop

from national