Dr. Edward De Bono

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Dr. Edward De Bono

• Edward De Bono is a world-known expert in
  creative thinking. The 6 Thinking Hats is one
  such technique.
• The main idea is to have the group only wear
  one hat at a time when considering a problem.
  The wearing of the hat is metaphorical. At any
  one time, everyone will wear the same colour, in
  other words, look at the problem at hand from
  only one perspective, the perspective indicated
  by the hat colour.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Introduction  
Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats techniques
help you to a balanced assessment of your ideas,
problems and challenges. By asking you to wear
six different thinking hats that represent the
six different aspects of how you can possibly
think.
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
You can use Six Thinking Hats for anything you
deal with in life. Use it in your business, use
it at school or use it at home. And as a side
affect you'll find the overall quality of your
creative thinking improve tremendously.
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
So, why wear six different thinking hats?
Traditional arguing involves two or more parties
opposing each other. Whatever one party offers
as an input to the discussion, the opponents will
come forth with critique. There are several
reasons for this discovering the truth,
investigating certain subjects, defending
viewpoints, just winning an argument or coming to
a synthesis of the various standpoints. 
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
So, why wear six different thinking hats?
Even if we agree mostly with our discussion
partners, we are still inclined to focus on the
details we disagree on. "Yes, BUT..." This habit
doesn't do justice to the input as a whole. We
will overlook valuable points of consideration
and lose a lot of time bickering over rights and
wrongs. Arguing isn't constructive nor creative.
It may result in some improvements but it won't
lead to innovation. Arguing is simply not going
to build you new roads...
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
So, why wear six different thinking hats?
De Bono's Six Thinking Hats offer us a simple yet
powerful alternative to discussion. With this
method we investigate together the facts, the
feelings, the pro's and cons, and the creative
solutions we can come up with. De Bono calls this
parallel thinking. The result of this is a
sincere dialogue in which personal gains are set
aside in favor of working together to reach
clarity. 
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
So, why wear six different thinking hats?
Use the Six Thinking Hats to assess existing
problems, innovative ideas, work processes, study
topics, possible decisions, solve disputes and
much, much more. The method is simple, but
extraordinarily effective. This has lead to the
situation that many prominent organizations have
implemented this technique in their daily
businesses today.
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
So, why wear six different thinking hats?
Learning the methods and techniques of De Bono's
Six Thinking Hats is easy. Yet it will strongly
affect your thinking. It is concrete, tangible,
simple to use and changes all thinking behaviors
instantly.
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Six Colored Hats - Six Types of Thinking
The colors of the hats are white, red, black,
yellow, green and blue. These colors were chosen
for a reason. They're associated with certain
situations which will help you remember the
objective of each separate hat.
Six hats with six different colors, all
representing a different aspect of your thinking.
When you wear a specific hat, the rule is you
stick to the kind of thinking it represents. When
you want to switch to a different style of
thinking, you need to switch hats as well.
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Blue Hat
Managing of the thinking itself. Defining the
topic, giving the summaries, making decisions and
drawing conclusions.
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Managing the Thinking Process

• A cool blue sky allowing you the overview over
  the thinking processes which take place.
• Here's the manager's blue hat.
• You take a little distance from your thinking and
  watch the process unfold.
• Guide it and control it.
• And draw the conclusions in the end.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Managing the Thinking Process

• Sets the agenda.
• Sets the timing.
• Decides on the next step.
• Keeps everyone on the focus.
• Handles requests.
• Keeps the discipline when using the hats.
• Handles the summary and conclusions.
• Asks for decisions.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
White Hat
Focus your thoughts on information - the facts
and figures. What info is available? How do we
get it?
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Information Available Needed

• Imagine white paper and computer print-outs.
• Most of the time paper is white.
• The white hat, just like most paper, refers to
  information and facts.
• So when you wear it, stick to the fact and
  figures.
• Only objective information is what you want
  right now.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Information Available Needed

• What information is available?
• What information would we like to have?
• What information do we need?
• What information is missing?
• Include both sided of disputed information.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Red Hat
Unlimited use of feelings, intuition and emotions
which don't have to be justified.
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Intuition and Feelings

• Imagine the red glow of a soaring fire.
• You're sitting close. Feel the warmth coming from
  the flames.
• The red hat refers to your feelings and emotions.
• Those can be based on complex experiences and
  aren't always easily analyzed.
• Usually they're left out of the discussion since
  they're neither based on facts nor logic.
• Yet feelings which are heard stop nagging in the
  back of your head.
• Thus sharing them helps to clear your thinking. 

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Intuition and Feelings

• Take no more than 20 to 30 seconds
• This is to signal intuition, feelings and
  emotions.
• Remind yourself that no explanation is needed!
• Give feelings and intuition validity.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Black Hat
Warning! Difficulties, dangers and problems.
What can go wrong? And does this comply with
our knowledge and experience?
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Caution, Difficulties, and Problems

• Have you ever experienced the feeling your future
  seemed to look pitch black?
• Only troubles, mistakes, problems and all sorts
  of dangers awaiting...
• You were wearing a black hat.
• Very useful at times.
• Now wear this hat to alert you to where you could
  go wrong.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Caution, Difficulties, and Problems

• What could be the possible problems?
• What could some of the difficulties be?
• What are points for caution?
• Right now we are using the black hat, so you must
  make a real effort to come up with the negatives.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Yellow Hat
Focus the thinking on benefits, values and
attainability. What are the positives?
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Benefits and Feasibility

• Remember a bright and sunny day. Walking outside
  in a gentle breeze, how easy it gets to feel
  optimistic about life.
• Your yellow hat represents the positive and
  logical aspects of your thinking.
• So it's not about your hopes!
• Your statements have to be backed up by reason as
  well.
• Looking for benefits, added value and observing
  how realistic your expectations will be. 

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Benefits and Feasibility

• What are the benefits?
• What are the positives?
• What are the values?
• Are there savings?
• Is there a competitive advantage?
• Is there potential value?
• Is there a concept in this idea that looks
  attractive?

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Green Hat
Conscious creative effort. Generating ideas and
looking for alternatives. Solving problems.
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Alternatives and Creative Ideas

• Leaves growing on the trees and bushes, the first
  flowers unfold in the young and lush meadows and
  all is vibrant with the creative energy of life.
• Your green hat represents your conscious creative
  efforts.
• New ideas arise, innovative solutions pop up.
• No logic required this time.
• Just let your imagination run wild.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Alternatives and Creative Ideas

• We need further alternatives.
• We need to make a creative effort.
• Are there other ways to do this?
• What else could we do here?
• How else might we carry through this concept?
• What are the possibilities?
• What will overcome our difficulties?

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Preparing a Session
First of all you need a concept. An idea, a
problem to solve, a product to create, a service
to promote, etc.. What is your thinking going
to focus on? What are we thinking about? What
are we working towards? What results do we
expect of this thinking session?
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Preparing a Session
Thinking in itself is the most effective is we
have clarity about what we want to think about.
In general your thinking can be focused in two
ways
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Preparing a Session

• determine a general subject in which a specific
  area is made the focus of our thinking - to
  generate new ideas.   
• determine a specific subject that has a clearly
  described focus for our thinking - to solve a
  problem, improve a process, accomplish a task,
  overcome a difficulty, add a new feature.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Practical examples
"I would like to think in general about how
people at home brush their teeth".    "I need
some better designs for a toothbrush".    "I
need stronger material for the brush of a
toothbrush".
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Some typical thinking pitfalls

• When describing your concept, be specific about
  where you want your thinking to go.
• If you want to think about designing an umbrella,
  a broad description for you focus - like
  "Preventing people from getting wet" - will not
  suffice.
• You could end up with the conclusion that all bus
  stops need shelters.
• Add to your concept description.
• Use several descriptions. 

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Some typical thinking pitfalls

• Resist the temptation of looking for deeper
  meanings though.
• The general purpose of using the Six Thinking
  Hats is to come to constructive and creative
  thinking.
• Utilize your thinking for practical solutions.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Example

• "People don't want a drill, they want holes".
• Not completely true people want the holes for a
  reason, they serve a purpose.
• Thinking along these lines can easily distract
  you from the original objective designing a
  better drill.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Some typical thinking pitfalls

• To help the focus stick to our subject, it's
  useful to summarize the results of each separate
  hat session.
• This will also help the group to feel we're
  actually accomplishing something.
• Which in turn helps to keep all participants
  motivated and actively involved.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
Incidental

• A particular hat is used in itself to emphasize a
  certain way of thinking or switch to a different
  style.
• Before and after using the hat the conversation
  is a traditional argument or discussion.
• Utilizing the hat this way can for example serve
  as a time-out which helps to clear the thinking.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
Systematical

• Decide on a topic you want to think about.
• Determine a sequence for using the hats your
  thinking agenda.
• Then use the different hats in turn. 

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
Systematical

• The systematical approach is particularly useful
  when
• The thinkers have different opinions and dig in
  their heels leading to a dispute.   
• The discussion is becoming incoherent and leading
  nowhere.   
• There is little time available while a subject
  does deserve a thorough investigation.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
Different sequences for different focus points

• First of all there's no such thing a THE right
  sequence for using the Six Thinking Hats.
• Sequences differ according to subject and
  participating thinkers.
• Also remember that in reality every hat can be
  used as many times as is desirable. 

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
Different sequences for different focus points

• Let the facilitator of a meeting - the one
  wearing the blue hat - propose a sequence or if
  time allows, decide on this as a group.
• But even with a set sequence if applicable - be
  flexible!

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
How much time do you spend per hat?

• You can do an incredible amount of thinking in a
  relatively short period of time.
• Especially when it is known their is little time
  and you have a clear idea of what you're wanting
  to achieve with your thinking.
• Your thoughts will be sharper and the time limit
  prevents your thoughts from abbreviations.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
How much time do you spend per hat?

• With very practical topics 90 seconds per hat can
  produce an impressive amount of output.
• Also it appears to be wise to limit the time even
  more for people who are used to endless
  discussions.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
How much time do you spend per hat?

• Of course the timing also depends on the number
  of people participating.
• But in general 3 to 4 minutes per hat suffices -
  as a group!

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
Rules of thumb for timing

• Allow limitless time for white hat when much
  information needs to be digested. But keep the
  thinking focused on subject!

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
Rules of thumb for timing

• Don't limit black hat thinking as long as new
  viewpoints are brought forward.
• Breaking off prematurely will always result in
  strong resistance.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
Rules of thumb for timing

• For the same reasons also don't limit yellow hat
  thinking.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
Rules of thumb for timing

• Be flexible with green hat thinking switch to a
  different hat once the flow of ideas has stopped.
  
• You can always come back to the green hat later
  on.
• Only when using specific creative thinking
  methods allow for enough time to utilize them.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
Rules of thumb for timing

• Restrict red hat thinking to 30 seconds to
  prevent people from wanting to explain or justify
  their feelings.
• Only allow more time when intuition and feelings
  form a major part of our subject.
• (For instance when acceptability of a new idea is
  an issue.)   

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Applying the Six Different Hats
How do I use these Six Thinking Hats then?
Rules of thumb for timing

• Always limit the thinking session for each hat at
  forehand.
• If it turns out to be appropriate, allow for
  extra time.
• The timing is the task of the facilitator wearing
  the blue hat.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
When do I apply this thinking method?
Meetings - more than 2 people

• Both the incidental as the systematical
  application of the hats is useful during
  meetings.
• Important is that all participants are always
  wearing the same hat! 
• The facilitator usually has the blue hat on and
  structures the dialogue.
• But everyone can make blue hat 

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
When do I apply this thinking method?
Conversations - two people

• The most common way to use the hats during a
  conversation between two people, is incidental.
• Use the hats to guide the thinking and to ask for
  a different point of viewing the topic.

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
When do I apply this thinking method?
Individual

• Though the hats were originally 'designed' for
  interpersonal use, they can be used in individual
  situations as well.
• They structure your thoughts and prevent people
  from forgetting certain ways of thinking.
• It does take discipline!

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Key Points to Remember

• Always think in the style of the hat you're
  wearing. Any other ideas and thoughts that
  surface are to be ignored.   
• The hats represent a style of thinking. They do
  NOT describe people, thinking habits or
  thoughts.   
• Instead of arguing use parallel thinking to
  display different views next to each other and
  compare later.
• Follow the ritual of the hats and the colors.
  Take the method as a serious game. And stick to
  its rules.   
• The hats are meant to simplify the thinking and
  make it more efficient. So don't complicate
  things!

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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Short Sequences
First ideas
blue - definition of subject white - ready
knowledge green - generating ideas
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Short Sequences
Evaluation
yellow - benefits and valuable elements black -
dangers and difficulties
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Short Sequences
Improvement
black - inventory of weak points green -
improving those points
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Short Sequences
Explanation
white - factual situation green - possible causes
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Short Sequences
Direct action
red - gut feelings black - dangers and
difficulties
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Short Sequences
Choice
green - possible alternatives yellow - positives
of alternative black - negatives of
alternatives red - gut feelings
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Short Sequences
Emotions
red feelings white - actual situation green -
different viewpoints blue - conclusion
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Short Sequences
Chances
yellow benefits white - ready knowledge green
- creative action
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Short Sequences
Decision
green alternatives blue - compare alternatives
with needs red - choose alternative
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Longer Sequences
Problem Solving
blue - definition of problem white - available
info green - possible solutions yellow - reality
check solutions black - weak points
solutions white - connect to info blue - draw
conclusion
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Longer Sequences
Creative Effort
blue - purpose of creativity white - topic
info green - generating ideas yellow - idea
benefits black - idea down sides green - solving
down sides red - gut feelings
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Longer Sequences
Investigation
blue - definition of investigation white -
available info green - hypothesizing white -
investigate more info blue - summarize
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Longer Sequences
Decision Making
blue - topic of decision green - offer
alternatives white - factual situation yellow -
suitability alternatives black - un-suitability
alternatives red - making the decision black -
assessing decision
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Edward De Bono'sSix Thinking Hats
Longer Sequences
Communication
blue - necessity white - topic description green
- alternative views red - choice of
approach black - assessing choice
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SOALAN ???Question??
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Six Thinking Hats
Students Talking When Teacher is Teaching
White Hat state the facts - students are talking
when Teacher is talking - there is noise so that
others are distracted or can't hear - students
don't know what to do after Teacher has given
directions - many students get silly or off task
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Six Thinking Hats
Students Talking When Teacher is Teaching
Red Hat states the emotions - Teacher feels
offended - Students are frustrated because they
can't hear directions - Those talking enjoy
joking around and being heard
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Six Thinking Hats
Students Talking When Teacher is Teaching
Black Hat negative aspects - time is wasted -
learning is compromised - those who legitimately
have the floor feel that listeners don't care
about what they are saying - chaos in the
classroom
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Six Thinking Hats
Students Talking When Teacher is Teaching
Yellow Hat positives of the situation are
examined - everyone gets to say what is on their
mind - it can be fun - you don't have to wait
until you speak and therefore don't forget what
you what to say - not just the "smart" kids get
to speak
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Six Thinking Hats
Students Talking When Teacher is Teaching
Green Hat creative ideas that come with seeing
the problem in a new light - Teacher will be more
aware of the amount of time that she "talks" -
Teacher will try to include interaction from many
different students, not just the "smart" kids
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Six Thinking Hats
Students Talking When Teacher is Teaching
- students will work on resisting the need to say
everything that comes into their mind. They will
ask themselves if this is "on topic" and" if this
needs to be shared at this time. There needed to
be further discussion on "how" students would
work on this problem.
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Six Thinking Hats
Students Talking When Teacher is Teaching
- students will think about whether their comment
will interfere with other people's learning - we
will keep these charts up so that we can refer
back to the learning of this moment and reassess
how we are doing.
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Six Thinking Hats
Students Talking When Teacher is Teaching
Blue Hat Sum up what is learned - Teacher
learned that she needs to limit the amount of
time she uses "Talking" as a form of teaching -
Teacher needs to involve all students in
discussion. She needs to look for the one who
rarely offers comments or is quietly waiting to
be picked to answer.
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Six Thinking Hats
Students Talking When Teacher is Teaching
- Teacher needs to realize that some students
need "think time" before they are ready to
contribute to a discussion. Allowing time for
these students to think is important part of
class discussion so they do not tune out.
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Six Thinking Hats
Students Talking When Teacher is Teaching
- students now realize that when they talk when
others are talking it makes the person talking
feel like a fool or unappreciated. - students
realize that just to "get the laugh" of the
moment, they are jeopardizing other people's
learning
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Six Thinking Hats
Students Talking When Teacher is Teaching
- students learned that speaking whenever you
want show a lack of self-discipline and that not
everything that goes through our minds is worth
sharing. - teacher/student needs to revisit this
topic and check how we are doing
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SOALAN ???Question??
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Using the Six Hats to Respond to Literature
White Hat Information and facts about the book

• Title
• Author and Illustrator
• Awards that the book may have won (CBC Picture
  Book, Bilby Award)
• Plot- what happened, story map, Top Level
  Structure,
• Characters- names, what they look like
• Setting

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Using the Six Hats to Respond to Literature
White Hat Information and facts about the book

• Title
• Author and Illustrator
• Awards that the book may have won (CBC Picture
  Book, Bilby Award)
• Plot- what happened, story map, Top Level
  Structure,
• Characters- names, what they look like
• Setting

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Using the Six Hats to Respond to Literature
Red Hat Discussing feelings, likes and dislikes

• Title
• Author and Illustrator
• Awards that the book may have won (CBC Picture
  Book, Bilby Award)
• Plot- what happened, story map, Top Level
  Structure,
• Characters- names, what they look like
• Setting

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Using the Six Hats to Respond to Literature
Yellow Hat Benefits, good points and advantages

• What was the advantage of solving the problem
  that way?
• What are the advantages of?
• What are all the good points about...the
  character, the setting, the ending etc?

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Using the Six Hats to Respond to Literature
Black Hat Disadvantages, dangers and problems

• What was the advantage of solving the problem
  that way?
• What are the advantages of?
• What are all the good points about...the
  character, the setting, the ending etc?

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Using the Six Hats to Respond to Literature
Green Hat New ideas, creating, adapting,
innovating

• Lets write a new ending
• Write an acrostic about the main character
• Draw new illustrations for the story
• Think of a different way to solve the problem
• Write an innovation on the story

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SOALAN ???Question??
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Thank You !