This guy invented the term Lateral Thinking! The Six Hats are a great tool to assist with brainstorming, developing life long learning skills, critical thinking skills or potentially developing a theatre piece...intrigued?...read on....
"Nominated for the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2005, Edward de Bono is regarded by many as the leading authority in the field of creative thinking, innovation and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. He is equally renowned for his development of the Six Thinking Hats technique and the Direct Attention Thinking Tools. He is the originator of the concept of Lateral Thinking, which is now part of language and is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary. Dr. de Bono was born in Malta. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, holds an MA in psychology and physiology from Oxford, a D. Phil. in Medicine and also a Ph.D. from Cambridge. He has held faculty appointments at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, London and Harvard. Dr. de Bono's background in self-organizing systems led him to derive an understanding which he then applied to the neural networks of the brain (see The Mechanism of Mind 1969 - Penguin books).
His instruction in thinking has been sought by many organizations: IBM, Prudential, GM, BT (UK), NTT (Japan), Nokia (Finland), Mondadori (Italy), Total (France), Siemens (Germany), Bosch (Germany), Ericsson (Sweden) and many others. His methods are now mandatory in the school curriculum in many countries and widely used in others.
He has written 70 books with translations into 38 languages and has been invited to lecture in 57 countries.
Dr. de Bono was chosen by a group of academics as one of the 250 people who had contributed most to humanity in the whole history of the human race.
The appeal of Dr. de Bono's work is its simplicity and practicality. It can be used by four year olds and by senior executives; by Down syndrome youngsters and Nobel laureates."
The SIX THINKING HATS
"Learn to become an excellent lifelong thinker.
Six Thinking Hats is a time-tested, proven, and practical thinking tool. It provides a framework to help people think clearly and thoroughly by directing their thinking attention in one direction at a time--white hat facts, green hat creativity, yellow hat benefits, black cautions, red hat feelings, and blue hat process.
It's a simple mental metaphor. Hats are easy to put on and to take off. Each hat is a different color which signals the thinking ingredient. In a group setting each member thinks using the same thinking hat, at the same time, on the same thinking challenge—we call this focused parallel thinking.
Six Thinking Hats is a powerful tool that facilitates productive: critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. It enables each person's unique point of view to be included and considered. Argument and endless discussion become a thing of the past. Thinking becomes more thorough." (retrieved on 13 May 2015 from http://www.debonoforschools.com/asp/six_hats.asp).
"Description: The Six Thinking Hats method identifies six modes of thinking, which are meant to be directed in parallel at the problem at hand. This parallel thinking approach proactively discourages and replaces the argumentative approach in which members of a group advocate for opposing solutions.
Each thinking mode is identified by a color and defined by the role it plays in the process of problem solving. Once the participants understand and can perform the required thinking functions, they proceed to address the problem at hand, all working cooperatively toward the same objective, performing their thinking roles as required.
The hats or thinking modes, when used proactively separate ego from performance, so that everyone works toward a goal rather than in defense of a position."
The White Hat presses the need to gather information that is known and to find facts that are needed.
The Yellow Hat probes for and illuminates the value and benefits of ideas under consideration.
The Black Hat acts as devil's advocate, looking for and introducing reasons why an idea may not work.
The Red Hat expresses the feelings and emotions associated with the ideas on the table.
The Green Hat generates new possibilities, better alternatives, and new ideas, as they arise spontaneously or in response to other ideas.
The Blue Hat manages the thinking process toward the objective, assuring that the Six Thinking Hats guidelines are observed.
http://i.stack.imgur.com/yiY5M.png
The White Hat calls for information known or needed. "The facts, just the facts."
The 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. Probably the most powerful and useful of the Hats but a problem if overused.
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
"Nominated for the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2005, Edward de Bono is regarded by many as the leading authority in the field of creative thinking, innovation and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. He is equally renowned for his development of the Six Thinking Hats technique and the Direct Attention Thinking Tools. He is the originator of the concept of Lateral Thinking, which is now part of language and is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary. Dr. de Bono was born in Malta. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, holds an MA in psychology and physiology from Oxford, a D. Phil. in Medicine and also a Ph.D. from Cambridge. He has held faculty appointments at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, London and Harvard. Dr. de Bono's background in self-organizing systems led him to derive an understanding which he then applied to the neural networks of the brain (see The Mechanism of Mind 1969 - Penguin books).
His instruction in thinking has been sought by many organizations: IBM, Prudential, GM, BT (UK), NTT (Japan), Nokia (Finland), Mondadori (Italy), Total (France), Siemens (Germany), Bosch (Germany), Ericsson (Sweden) and many others. His methods are now mandatory in the school curriculum in many countries and widely used in others.
He has written 70 books with translations into 38 languages and has been invited to lecture in 57 countries.
Dr. de Bono was chosen by a group of academics as one of the 250 people who had contributed most to humanity in the whole history of the human race.
The appeal of Dr. de Bono's work is its simplicity and practicality. It can be used by four year olds and by senior executives; by Down syndrome youngsters and Nobel laureates."
The SIX THINKING HATS
"Learn to become an excellent lifelong thinker.
Six Thinking Hats is a time-tested, proven, and practical thinking tool. It provides a framework to help people think clearly and thoroughly by directing their thinking attention in one direction at a time--white hat facts, green hat creativity, yellow hat benefits, black cautions, red hat feelings, and blue hat process.
It's a simple mental metaphor. Hats are easy to put on and to take off. Each hat is a different color which signals the thinking ingredient. In a group setting each member thinks using the same thinking hat, at the same time, on the same thinking challenge—we call this focused parallel thinking.
Six Thinking Hats is a powerful tool that facilitates productive: critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. It enables each person's unique point of view to be included and considered. Argument and endless discussion become a thing of the past. Thinking becomes more thorough." (retrieved on 13 May 2015 from http://www.debonoforschools.com/asp/six_hats.asp).
"Description: The Six Thinking Hats method identifies six modes of thinking, which are meant to be directed in parallel at the problem at hand. This parallel thinking approach proactively discourages and replaces the argumentative approach in which members of a group advocate for opposing solutions.
Each thinking mode is identified by a color and defined by the role it plays in the process of problem solving. Once the participants understand and can perform the required thinking functions, they proceed to address the problem at hand, all working cooperatively toward the same objective, performing their thinking roles as required.
The hats or thinking modes, when used proactively separate ego from performance, so that everyone works toward a goal rather than in defense of a position."
The White Hat presses the need to gather information that is known and to find facts that are needed.
The Yellow Hat probes for and illuminates the value and benefits of ideas under consideration.
The Black Hat acts as devil's advocate, looking for and introducing reasons why an idea may not work.
The Red Hat expresses the feelings and emotions associated with the ideas on the table.
The Green Hat generates new possibilities, better alternatives, and new ideas, as they arise spontaneously or in response to other ideas.
The Blue Hat manages the thinking process toward the objective, assuring that the Six Thinking Hats guidelines are observed.
http://i.stack.imgur.com/yiY5M.png
The White Hat calls for information known or needed. "The facts, just the facts."
The 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. Probably the most powerful and useful of the Hats but a problem if overused.
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
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