With the advent of brain based learning - educators are now using the popular and powerful tool "The six thinking hats". The Six Thinking Hats is a simple, effective parallel thinking process that helps people be more productive, focused, and mindfully involved. And once learned the tools can be applied immediately!
Early in the 1980s the six thinking hats method was invented. The method is a framework for thinking and can incorporate lateral thinking. Organisations such as Prudential Insurance, IBM, Federal Express, British Airways, Polaroid, Pepsico, DuPont, and Nippon Telephone and Telegraph, possibly the world's largest company, use Six Thinking Hats.
The six hats represent six modes of thinking and are directions to think rather than labels for thinking. That is, the hats are used proactively rather than reactively. The method promotes fuller input from more people. The method "separates ego from performance". Everyone is able to contribute to the exploration without denting egos as they are just using the yellow hat or whatever hat. The six hats system encourages performance rather than ego defence. People can contribute under any hat even though they initially support the opposite view.
Each thinking hat denotes a different way of thinking and this thinking method is now being used to assist in education at all levels. It is used in schools, colleges, universities and in many learning situations.
The colourful strategy exposes learners to six different styles of thinking and helps them look at a problem from six different perspectives.
The Six Thinking Hats approach can be used to address almost any problem-solving activity you might encounter in the classroom. Assigning each thinking style a colour serves as a visual cue to help students recognize the thinking skill they are using. The six different hats students might wear, and the kinds of thinking they represent, are briefly described below:
 |
The Silver White Hat calls for information known or needed. "The facts, just the facts." |
 |
The Gold Yellow Hat symbolizes brightness and optimism. Under this hat you explore the positives and probe for value and benefit |
 |
The Black Hat is judgment - the devil's advocate or why something may not work. Spot the difficulties and dangers; where things might go wrong. |
 |
The Red Hat signifies feelings, hunches and intuition. When using this hat you can express emotions and feelings and share fears, likes, dislikes, loves, and hates. |
 |
The Green Hat focuses on creativity; the possibilities, alternatives, and new ideas. It's an opportunity to express new concepts and new perceptions. |
 |
The Blue Hat is used to manage the thinking process. It's the control mechanism that ensures the Six Thinking Hats® guidelines are observed. |
|
The Six Thinking Hats helps actualise the full thinking potential of teams. And when used as a meeting management tool, the Six Hats method provides the disciplined process for individuals to be focused and to the point.
But possibly most important, it requires each individual to look at all sides of an issue. Employees like the way the Six Hats method neutralizes employee rank in a meeting where several levels of employees are present. It also puts people who are quiet and reserved on an equal playing field with those who are more talkative and might monopolize a meeting.
|
